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Google Android
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4343		 Page 116 of 133
Author:  Findus Fop [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
GazChap wrote:
What's the current state of making payments via wearables with Android? Considering to give thought to switching over to Android, but one of the things that I use my Apple Watch for most is paying for things, and it seems like the payment systems for Android aren't anywhere near as ubiquitous or as tightly integrated with the watches etc.


Isn't that dead awkward, physically. Don't you have to crane your wrist into weird angles in order to make it work?
Author:  Bamba [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Trousers wrote:
Yesterday I took delivery of a Galaxy S8. The transfer of info is still far clunkier than Apple's solution so it will take a while to get it to where I need it to be from a UI & apps point of view.


The experience varies depending on the launcher you use. I've got the Google Now launcher (or whatever the vanilla Android one's called) on all my devices so the reset process is incredibly smooth and impressive; it'll not only reinstall all my apps but it'll place all the icons and widgets in the right place on the right home screen as well.
Author:  GazChap [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Findus Fop wrote:
Isn't that dead awkward, physically. Don't you have to crane your wrist into weird angles in order to make it work?

You soon get used to it, and most places have their card readers up relatively high anyway so less of a problem.
Author:  Bamba [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
GazChap wrote:
What's the current state of making payments via wearables with Android? Considering to give thought to switching over to Android, but one of the things that I use my Apple Watch for most is paying for things, and it seems like the payment systems for Android aren't anywhere near as ubiquitous or as tightly integrated with the watches etc.


It's certainly possible to do in the same as the iWatch but the device needs to be running the new version of Android Wear and have NFC built in, which apparently not a lot of them do at the moment. This article talks about all that and has a list of devices that was current at least as of March:

https://www.androidcentral.com/these-ar ... ndroid-pay
Author:  myp [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
My Gear S3 only supports Samsung Pay, which my bank doesn't support. The Android Wear watches support Android Pay but not all of them.
Author:  Bamba [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 14:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Lonewolves wrote:
My Gear S3 only supports Samsung Pay, which my bank doesn't support. The Android Wear watches support Android Pay but not all of them.


Huh. It never occurred to me that with your switch to Android your watch would also be rendered near useless.
Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 15:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
GazChap wrote:
What's the current state of making payments via wearables with Android?

Not great. The only Android Wear devices that have NFC for payments, to my knowledge, are the ones that have LTE. So they are all massive and tend to be a bit expensive.
Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Fri Oct 13, 2017 15:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Findus Fop wrote:
Isn't that dead awkward, physically. Don't you have to crane your wrist into weird angles in order to make it work?

No, you just rotate your wrist and offer it up to the reader. It's fine. It's even fine on the Tube, where the reader is mounted on the right, meaning you have to bring your arm across your body if you wear your watch on your left wrist. But it's not uncomfortable.
Author:  myp [ Fri Oct 20, 2017 19:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Really impressed with my Gear S3. I'd already had two days from a single charge before today. It was down to 15% when I woke up today and because I didn't have my charger with me due to UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, I put it in low-power mode. And this low-power mode is infinitely more useful than Apple Watch's "press the button for the time like it's a 1970s digital watch" mode. You can still see the time and date when you press a button, but also it delivers all your notifications (albeit in black and white) and phone calls still come through. It's still on 8% now!
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 20:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
The headphone socket on my N6P went last week and, with the OnePlus 5 going out of stock globally, I'd intended to wait for their next offering and grab one of those. Not having music is fucking killing me though bollocks to it, I've ordered a Galaxy S8. This hadn't occurred to me as an option because (a) I assumed I'd need the Plus model and (b) I'm not spending north of £800 on a phone. Having looked into it properly though I realised that the Plus model is actually fucking massive and that, surprisingly, the standard S8 will do me fine. Also: the top result for the S8 on Amazon is an incredibly highly rated indie shop who're only charging £520 for it which is a perfectly fair price. Sorted!
Author:  myp [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 20:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
You know I have the S8 right? I came to the same conclusion as you - the Plus was too big and expensive.
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 20:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Lonewolves wrote:
You know I have the S8 right? I came to the same conclusion as you - the Plus was too big and expensive.


I do know you have one, yeah; indeed quite a few friends of mine have one. Most people I know don't ever want as big a phone as I'd prefer though so it never occurred to me to think about it. Also, in the past, whenever anyone--including Samsung--did two sizes of something, the smaller size was always too small so I assumed that was still true. And, to be fair, if I had all the money in the world I'd definitely take the Plus (or, for preference the new Note) but I don't and this isn't the compromise I'd initially assumed it would be so that's all good. :)
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 20:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
What I'm still really hoping though is that Google will allow the install of the Google Now launcher because fuck the default Samsung nonsense right in the ass.
Author:  LewieP [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 20:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
I'm surprised there isn't an S8 mini tbh.
Author:  myp [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 20:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
If money had been no object I'd have the 256GB iPhone X, but I see your point. ;)
Author:  Grim... [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
No way Bluetooth headphones could have solved it?
Author:  myp [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Grim... wrote:
No way Bluetooth headphones could have solved it?

That's not solving it apparently. Even though no phone in five years time will have headphones jacks.
Author:  Grim... [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Just friends how you feel about wireless headphones, I guess.
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Grim... wrote:
No way Bluetooth headphones could have solved it?


Well, yeah, that would of course be a 'solution'. But really it's a workaround; I want a working physical headphone port and currently I don't have one. In the long term, I'll claim that on my phone insurance and get a fix/replacement so my sister gets an 'upgrade'. But right now I don't have a phone that meets my basic needs so, it is what it is.
Author:  Grim... [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
There's rumblings of Google replacing out-of-warranty 6Ps with Pixel 1s. Mine will be going back soon so I'll let you know.
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Lonewolves wrote:
Even though no phone in five years time will have headphones jacks.


Right now, is it five years from now? That seems to me to be the most incredibly stupid question that anyone would ever have to ask, and yet...
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 21:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Grim... wrote:
There's rumblings of Google replacing out-of-warranty 6Ps with Pixel 1s. Mine will be going back soon so I'll let you know.


P!ease do! :)
Author:  Bamba [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 22:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Bamba wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
Even though no phone in five years time will have headphones jacks.


Right now, is it five years from now? That seems to me to be the most incredibly stupid question that anyone would ever have to ask, and yet...


A!so, get fucked! Five years from now we'll just have loads of headphones/earbuds with USB C connections on the end. We'll have solved precisely no problems at all except that desperate desire of phone manufacturers to make their products another mm slimmer. Y'know, that one thing no actual person has given a single fuck about since 2014? The battery life will be worse because OF COURSE IT FUCKING WILL and listening to music will have this desperately weird barrier to entry.

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE!

you fucking twat
Author:  myp [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 22:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Chill out dude
Author:  Satsuma [ Sun Oct 22, 2017 23:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
In the future electronics will be charged on a big metal plate.
Author:  GazChap [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 10:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Samsung/Android Pay is supported by First Direct, so I'm seriously considering jumping ship.
Author:  Cras [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
You too can be like Grim... and flail your phone at tube gates ineffectually while travellers queue behind you and sigh!
Author:  TheVision [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Remember the problem I was having with my duplicated contacts? Well, in a strange turn of events... It appears to have fixed itself.
Author:  GazChap [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Cras wrote:
You too can be like Grim... and flail your phone at tube gates ineffectually while travellers queue behind you and sigh!

I don't have this problem with Apple Pay, is Samsung/Android Pay known for being shit like this? Because if so, that's a consideration.

Not that I'm in That London all that often, but still.
Author:  Grim... [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Cras wrote:
You too can be like Grim... and flail your phone at tube gates ineffectually while travellers queue behind you and sigh!

It's fine about 90% of the time, which is obviously 10% too few.
Author:  Cras [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
That's improved then, I seem to remember early days you saying it was 50:50.
Author:  TheVision [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 12:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
I knew I had an Android related question….

Does anyone know of a Twitter app that will allow me to pin lists to the homescreen. I have a couple of Twitter lists set up for my friends and also for a ‘cheap video game’ list.

What I would like is a couple of shortcuts on my homescreen that I could tap and go straight into either list.
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 12:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Cras wrote:
You too can be like Grim... and flail your phone at tube gates ineffectually while travellers queue behind you and sigh!


Ha! A mate of mine set up Android Pay on his S7 and when we went to get a drivethrough Maccy D's he was all like, 'Watch this, I'm going to pay with Android Pay on my phone'.

Thus followed what felt like YEARS of amusement (it was probably 30 seconds) as he tried to get the right bit of his phone in the proximity of the right bit of the contactless card reader that was being proffered out of the drivethrough window at him.

Obviously I'm being really encouraging with comments such as 'It's fucking awesome this Matt, sign me up'.

When the two devices were finally aligned correctly the card reader rejected the phone and said PIN verification was required, at which point he had to fish out his debit card anyway and use that to pay with.

'That normally doesn't happen' was the best he could manage as a defence. And I'm just like, 'Whatever minger'.
Author:  GazChap [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 12:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Using Apple Pay on my phone is a constant clusterfuck of trying to reliably get the pay screen to come up, and then get it to read my thumbprint.

Dead easy with the watch though, never any problems apart from the odd occasion where the card is rejected by the bank.
Author:  myp [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 13:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Yep, using Apple Pay on my Watch was a really good experience. It's the one thing I miss.
Author:  TheVision [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 13:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
I've used Android pay on a few occasions now and it's surprised me that it actually works.

You don't need to load the app or anything, just hold your phone up to the car reader and press your fingerprint to unlock it. Simple.

It also notified me the other day when I was in Aldi that they are a store that I can use Android pay in. Clever.
Author:  myp [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 13:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Yeah, it's better than Apple Pay on the phone I think.
Author:  Bamba [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 13:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
TheVision wrote:
It also notified me the other day when I was in Aldi that they are a store that I can use Android pay in. Clever.


I turned off those notifications this morning because I was getting loads of them while walking down the street; total pain in the ass.
Author:  Grim... [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 14:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Cras wrote:
That's improved then, I seem to remember early days you saying it was 50:50.

Yeah, early on TFL readers fucking hated it.
Author:  Grim... [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 14:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
TheVision wrote:
You don't need to load the app or anything, just hold your phone up to the car reader and press your fingerprint to unlock it. Simple.

Or unlock the phone first and then put it on the reader.
Author:  myp [ Mon Oct 23, 2017 14:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Grim... wrote:
TheVision wrote:
You don't need to load the app or anything, just hold your phone up to the car reader and press your fingerprint to unlock it. Simple.

Or unlock the phone first and then put it on the reader.

Except I have it set to unlock automatically when it's in my possession so I have to use the fingerprint reader anyway.
Author:  TheVision [ Mon Oct 30, 2017 15:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
I’ve had Android pay fail on me twice in the last week… I’m not sure why as I did everything the same as I did before? Luckily I’ve had my card with me but it’s slightly annoying as it means I can’t rely on it in future if I did forget my card.
Author:  myp [ Mon Oct 30, 2017 15:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
It's never failed for me. Only grumbles when I forget to "unlock" with my fingerprint.
Author:  Findus Fop [ Mon Oct 30, 2017 15:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
TheVision wrote:
I’ve had Android pay fail on me twice in the last week… I’m not sure why as I did everything the same as I did before? Luckily I’ve had my card with me but it’s slightly annoying as it means I can’t rely on it in future if I did forget my card.


You're allowed a limited number of "taps" per day, before needing to use your chip and PIN card. After that you can start tapping again. That might have been the issue.
Author:  TheVision [ Mon Oct 30, 2017 15:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Nope, both times was the first time I'd used it that day. I've only used it (successfully) on about 3 occasions so far.
Author:  MaliA [ Wed Nov 01, 2017 21:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
My S7 edge reset itself three times and then powered down. Hard resets do not work. Balls.
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Nov 01, 2017 21:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
MaliA wrote:
My S7 edge reset itself three times and then powered down. Hard resets do not work. Balls.

That's exactly what happened to my S4.

Contact Samsung for warranty repair. Do you have a spare phone?
Author:  Bamba [ Wed Nov 01, 2017 21:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
So I've had my S8 for a wee while now and my overall feeling is: meh.

It's nice and fast and all, but it should be given that it's brand new.

The lack of bezel at the side just means I'm sometimes touching the sides of it when trying to do stuff and although the curve on the sides obviously isn't as extreme as with then actual 'edge' variants it's still totally pointless and slightly irritating.

Probably the most annoying thing though is the aspect ratio; it's really tall for its width and a lot of stuff doesn't scale at all well. I tried out YouTube on it today and you can either have black borders at the sides of your videos or let it stretch and crop, which seems like the sort of thing that just shouldn't even be a choice in this day and age. When you launch certain apps they don't fill the full screen and you get a weird little notification thing asking if you want to stretch it to fill the full screen. There's even a full control panel to allow you to decide for each app how it displays, and as soon as you need something like that it should be a red flag that your designs gone a bit wrong.

The fingerprint scanner also isn't anywhere near as good as my N6P. Not only does the phone not respond as quickly, but they've placed it off-centre and directly beside the camera (which is a similar type of indent) so it's not instinctively easy to find with your finger. I genuinely can't understand that as a design decision, it seems mental.

I've no doubt I'll get used to all this and it'll stop bothering me after a while but in a lot of ways it seems like a step backwards from previous phones I've had and I'm slightly surprised at all the praise it's been getting.
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Nov 01, 2017 21:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
Samsung's brand loyalty is verging on Apple levels these days, so strange design decisions seem to be sneaking in.

With regards to the aspect ratio, I'm not convinced the ultra tall thing is a step in the right direction. Surely most content is still 16:9? At least in TV land. My shiny new Pixel 2 has a relatively tiny 5" 1080p 16:9 screen, and I love it
Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Wed Nov 01, 2017 22:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Google Android
I like tall screens. Most everything I do on my phone is a long page of content I scroll (Twitter, FB, beex, Kindle, web pages, etc etc) so a taller screen gives me more content without making the phone too wide to be comfortably grasped. I watch very little video on my phone and vertically letterboxing it slightly doesn't bother me at all.

The S8 and Note 8's fingerprint scanner is some grade A bullshit though.
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