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If you care about LTE/4G use, iPhone 5 isn’t it

You can get simultaneous voice and LTE on Verizon with Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy SIII pictured here. We’ve highlighted the fact that we’re on the phone plus the LTE icon is illuminated.

I admit that I might be only talking to small subset of the total iPhone 5 audience, but I have a photo here that shows why, if you care about LTE speeds and usability, the iPhone 5 is not for you. I say this with a heavy heart because I was waiting for this phone to come out and was prepared to seriously consider buying one.  But because it has been extensively reported that the iPhone 5 cannot do simultaneous voice + LTE,  it is a deal-breaker for me.

The picture here is one of my friend’s phone where today we ran a simple experiment:

 

1. I called him and he picked up the phone.

2. He went to browse the web.

3. The 4G-LTE icon was lit.

4. Browsing was as fast as it normally is, i.e. LTE speeds.

 

From what has been reported so far, this seemingly simple feat cannot be done by the “latest greatest” phone, the iPhone 5.

 

There are other reports that AT&T can do simultaneous voice and data but only at 3G speeds. From everything I have found so far, you cannot do voice+LTE speeds on iPhone 5.

 

Deal killer for me.

 

Some of my friends say it doesn’t matter, others say they are fine with 3G ATT speeds. That may be true.  But keep in mind, this is what you WILL NOT be able to do while you’re on the phone:

  • Check for new email, i.e. send files back and forth.
  • Browse the web.
  • Keep your wifi hotspot working.

 

For me, the last one is a particular killer.  I spend a lot of time on the phone and online at the same time, many times using a hotspot to get online.  I simply must be able to do this.

 

So perhaps this lack is not an issue for you and you can’t wait to get your iPhone 5.  I share your excitement;  have fun!

 

But for those who must have voice+high speed data from their phone, the iPhone 5 isn’t it.  Either wait for the next iPhone or get yourself an Android now.  However even then, make sure you confirm in advance that you can do voice+LTE at the same time.

 

Did this post change your mind? Why? Why not?

iPhone 5 won’t do data while talking

Though I was leaning to NOT get the iPhone 5 (just not enough coolness over the Android competitors like Galaxy S3 for example) this is definitely a deal-killer for me:

On providers like Verizon or Sprint, iPhone 5 will NOT transfer data while you’re on the phone.  (aka simultaneous voice and data).

iphone 5 can't do voice+data

Put a fork in it.  It’s done. For me.

I’ve had a Sprint EVO 4G (yes, the original one) for 3 years now and even that phone, ancient by today’s standards, can do voice+data (admittedly that only works on 4G data but still, it works).

So, sorry Apple.  I’m looking for an UPGRADE, not a DOWNGRADE.  Android here I come!

 

iPhone 5 won’t support simultaneous voice and data on Verizon or Sprint | The Verge.

Details of the iPhone 5

 I’m going to take a look at one of these in the store and then wait a few weeks to see what the Android world comes out with.

  • 4 inch display (taller)
  • 1136×640 pixels (more stuff shows on screen, notice 5 rows of icons vs. just 4)
  • 4G LTE  (way, way faster speeds)
  • 18% thinner (7.6mm)
  • 20% lighter (112 grams)
  • 2x faster CPU and 2x faster graphics
  • battery life unchanged (8 hrs browsing)
  • HD front-facing facetime camera
  • facetime can work over 3G
  • 3 noise-cancelling microphones

Apple Introduces the iPhone 5

 

Apple Introduces the iPhone 5.

HTC phones security flaw; EVO, Thunderbolt & others

Any installed app that has “Full Internet Access” permissions (which you would think is most if not all apps as they typically use a Net connection for their functionality) also has access to a lot what we might regard as private data including phone and sms log data (including phone numbers)

Many HTC phones have been identified as affected, including EVO 4G, EVO 3D, Thunderbolt, and Shift. Other HTC phones may be vulnerable too but that has not been confirmed. You can get in-depth technical information from “Android Police

Right now there is no patch or workaround. My recommendation is that you only install or run “name brand” apps that wouldn’t unnecessarily have an interest in violating your privacy

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Android Shortcut

[audio:YCM-AndroidShortcut.mp3]
Add one touch speed dial to your family and friends the easy way. Just press and hold an empty space on the screen and add a shortcut to a direct dial. Android will put a button on your screen that immediately calls your loved ones. Try it right now!

Android security hole getting patched

Nice job of Google patching up a security hole. Previously, you were exposed to a security hole if you were connecting over an open, unsecured wifi network.

http://mobile.pcmag.com/device2/article.php?CALL_URL=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385565,00.asp

Your Android Phone is probably hackable. Uh oh

I’ve got a Sprint EVO 4G phone myself so this article is of particular interest. I’ve not gone into the details but I will, and I suggest you do too! It seems that there’s a good chance of a security risk if you’re connected to a public, unsecured wifi network. So until this gets fixed, Just Say No to free unsecured wifi and continue using your 3G/4G network for connectivity.

The vast majority of devices running Google’s Android operating system are vulnerable to attacks that allow adversaries to steal the digital credentials used to access calendars, contacts, and other sensitive data stored on the search giant’s servers, university researchers have warned.

Here’s why you can’t get Google Voice on your Sprint phone

Short story: Google Voice DOES work on Sprint phones including Hawaii, but will NOT work if your Sprint phone is under a corporate account (like mine). Here’s the details:

I was really excited to enable Google Voice on my Sprint EVO 4G phone “Hawaii Sprint Customers: Do we get Google Voice?“. So you could imagine how bummed I was when Google Voice says, “Unfortunately, Google Voice cannot be enabled on this Sprint phone. Please contact Sprint for more details as to why this cannot be enabled.”

Worse yet, other Hawaii Sprint customers were telling me that it worked just fine for them. Damn! Why me, Lord?

Well today I finally called Sprint. They were a little puzzled too but after digging around, we found out why: My Sprint is under my corporate account and apparently business accounts are not allowed to enable Google voice. While I’m disappointed, I can see why. On a policy level, if this was my company’s phone, I can certainly see that my boss might not approve of me implementing various re-routing and voicemail rules that Google Voice allows.

So, if you’ve got a personal/home Sprint account, you should be good. If you’ve got corporate, you’re out of luck.

Final note: a shout-out goes to the Sprint folks. I’ve only been with them for a year but their customer support has always been excellent, the service has been fabulous (I can’t recall a single dropped call that my phone caused) and the phone (other than the absolutely crappy battery life) has been an incredible workhorse. Thanks Sprint!

Netflix movies now on Android: I’ll never watch TV again.

I already watch more video on my Sprint EVO 4G than my big screen TV. Now that Netflix has arrived for Android it’s going to get even worse (better?). I just got through installing it. The video quality is great and it works like a charm. Holy Schmokes. I love it! The only reason why I will watch TV now will be as a family event. Otherwise, my EVO on the kickstand is my new video-watching device. That big screen is sure coming in handy.

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Google’s netbook launches, IT Depts are either cheering or running scared

You just got to love Google’s continued encroachment on sacred cows. First it was email, then office apps, and now it’s your IT department. Business customers with 10 or more users can get these “Chromebook” netbook PCs which essentially only run the Chrome browser, for $28/mo. Here’s the real killer: this includes technical (i.e. helpdesk) support. If I worked in an IT department, I’d figure out a way to become the Google Chromebook uberwizard because when these machines come into the company, I’d want to be getting a raise and not a pink slip

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