NationStates

A short Q&A:
Why Take Two?
Because there was already a first one here, but I'm pretty sure gravedigging it with no new content is forbidden.

So...

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Lolnope

A mobile phone (also known as a cellular phone, cell phone, and a hand phone) is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile phone operator, allowing access to the public telephone network. By contrast, a cordless telephone is used only within the short range of a single, private base station.

In addition to telephony, modern mobile phones also support a wide variety of other services such as text messaging, MMS, email, Internet access, short-range wireless communications (infrared, Bluetooth), business applications, gaming and photography. Mobile phones that offer these and more general computing capabilities are referred to as smartphones.

Source: English Wikipedia

Phone News this Week

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• iPhone 5C: Faring badly with Chinese consumers
• Microsoft aquires Nokia (well, most of it)
• A worthy competitor to the Galaxy Note?
• HTC's failing fortunes cost around 30 jobs
• Android 4.4 named after Nestle chocolate bar
• Google fails and leaks Nexus 5 by accident

So this is basically a thread to discuss phones.

A couple questions to get started.
What do you think of the iPhone 5C and 5S?
Do you think BlackBerry will be able to turn its failing fortunes around?
Can Android fragmentation be fixed?

I personally dislike the new iPhones as being dull and unoriginal, think BlackBerry is doomed to fail and Android fragmentation is a problem where the cost outweighs the advantages.

So some new questions:
What do you think of Microsoft's new CEO?
How long do you think it'll take before BlackBerry goes poof?
Rhubarbs or strawberries?

Credit to Divair for thread idea, and for the revival.

Ainin wrote:What do you think of the iPhone 5C and 5S?

The fingerprint scanner on the 5S looks interesting. The rest seems like standard Apple nonsense or stuff copied from MSFT/Nokia.

Ainin wrote:Do you think BlackBerry will be able to turn its failing fortunes around?

No. They attempted to catch up with the Z10, but consumers are clearly uninterested.

Ainin wrote:Can Android fragmentation be fixed?

Nope. Way too many OEM's and too many phones.

I currently have an iPhone 4S but am pleased to say that tomorrow I will finally be free from the horror that is Apple with my purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S4.


What do you think of the iPhone 5C and 5S?

I see the iPhone 5S/5C as just the usual Crapple and very little actually interesting or exciting.

Do you think BlackBerry will be able to turn its failing fortunes around?

No.

Can Android fragmentation be fixed?

I see it as a strength, not a problem. At any rate, much better than the Apple "my way or the highway".

Also some recent big news.


MSFT buys Nokia's phone division.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23940171

Windows Phone aims to catch up with 6-inch 1080P phablet and giant battery.
http://www.geek.com/microsoft/6-inch-no ... y-1570517/

HTC fires 20% of its American staff.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/13/47286 ... elf-around

Android 4.4 to be named KitKat.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23926938

Nexus 5 accidentally leaked.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/3/469165 ... tkat-video

Microsoft's version of Siri to be named Cortana. Will be implemented across WP, W8, and Xbox.
http://uk.gamespot.com/news/microsofts- ... rt-6414424

Divair wrote:Also some recent big news.


MSFT buys Nokia's phone division.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23940171

Windows Phone aims to catch up with 6-inch 1080P phablet and giant battery.
http://www.geek.com/microsoft/6-inch-no ... y-1570517/

HTC fires 20% of its American staff.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/13/47286 ... elf-around

Android 4.4 to be named KitKat.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23926938

Nexus 5 accidentally leaked.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/3/469165 ... tkat-video

Microsoft's version of Siri to be named Cortana. Will be implemented across WP, W8, and Xbox.
http://uk.gamespot.com/news/microsofts- ... rt-6414424

Thanks, I'll add them to the OP.

Since it's apparent that Apple is money-whoring at this point, I'd be happy with just a normal flip-phone. Apple screws you over too much.

Torisakia wrote:Since it's apparent that Apple is money-whoring at this point, I'd be happy with just a normal flip-phone. Apple screws you over too much.

Yea, you could say they're money-whoring. The 5C, supposedly a budget phone, costs $550 unlocked for 16GB.

Divair wrote:

Torisakia wrote:Since it's apparent that Apple is money-whoring at this point, I'd be happy with just a normal flip-phone. Apple screws you over too much.

Yea, you could say they're money-whoring. The 5C, supposedly a budget phone, costs $550 unlocked for 16GB.

Apple Marketing Dept.

"The consumers aren't buying our $650 unlocked iPhones. What do we do?"
"We make it crap, and then cut $150 off it, and call it a budget phone!"
"Genius!"

Ainin wrote:

Divair wrote:Yea, you could say they're money-whoring. The 5C, supposedly a budget phone, costs $550 unlocked for 16GB.

Apple Marketing Dept.

"The consumers aren't buying our $650 unlocked iPhones. What do we do?"
"We make it crap, and then cut $150 off it, and call it a budget phone!"
"Genius!"

They think the brand name will sell it alone. Unfortunately, they're probably right.

evleaks is claiming the WP phablet (codename Bandit, real name suspected Lumia 1520) is being pushed back to late October.
https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/378915114285412352

Jolla will take over the international market and Finland will rise as the new economical superpower, resigns from EU, buys EU, buys China and takes Karelia back with an army of roughly one billion people, then it annexes Estonia, Norway, Sweden and North Pole and institutes Santa Claus as a dictator who moves the capital to Korvatunturi and starts distributing Jolla phones to everyone who pays a decent fee of hundred Finnish mark.

Opuntia wrote:Jolla will take over the international market and Finland will rise as the new economical superpower, resigns from EU, buys EU, buys China and takes Karelia back with an army of roughly one billion people, then it annexes Estonia, Norway, Sweden and North Pole and institutes Santa Claus as a dictator who moves the capital to Korvatunturi and starts distributing Jolla phones to everyone who pays a decent fee of hundred Finnish mark.

Clearly.

People actually give a shit about phones? They're just boxes that make you talk to people.

Divair wrote:

Opuntia wrote:Jolla will take over the international market and Finland will rise as the new economical superpower, resigns from EU, buys EU, buys China and takes Karelia back with an army of roughly one billion people, then it annexes Estonia, Norway, Sweden and North Pole and institutes Santa Claus as a dictator who moves the capital to Korvatunturi and starts distributing Jolla phones to everyone who pays a decent fee of hundred Finnish mark.

Clearly.

The communist government of Finland just hasn't realized it yet with their anti-patriotic Nokia sympathizers.

All seriousness aside, I really want to try out something new and have preordered a Jolla with Meego.

Opuntia wrote:

Divair wrote:Clearly.

The communist government of Finland just hasn't realized it yet with their anti-patriotic Nokia sympathizers.

All seriousness aside, I really want to try out something new and have preordered a Jolla with Meego.

They've got some interesting ideas, I'll admit.

Torisakia wrote:Since it's apparent that Apple is money-whoring at this point, I'd be happy with just a normal flip-phone. Apple screws you over too much.

agreed. Also what is with men and their technology?

Terra Sector Union wrote:People actually give a shit about phones? They're just boxes that make you talk to people.

Life is full of boxes that make you talk to people. We're talking in a box right now.

Lordieth wrote:

Terra Sector Union wrote:People actually give a shit about phones? They're just boxes that make you talk to people.

Life is full of boxes that make you talk to people. We're talking in a box right now.

Excluding Jollas which are a form of boat, not a box. People can also talk outside the box. Unless the universe is a box.

Divair wrote:

Ainin wrote:[b]What do you think of the iPhone 5C and 5S?

The fingerprint scanner on the 5S looks interesting. The rest seems like standard Apple nonsense or stuff copied from MSFT/Nokia.

why would you be interested in a fingerprint scanner?

I prefer that my phone do nothing but make calls and texts. I accept that having a camera attached is a useful addition but otherwise I have no use for extra stuff on my phone.

Ashmoria wrote:

Divair wrote:The fingerprint scanner on the 5S looks interesting. The rest seems like standard Apple nonsense or stuff copied from MSFT/Nokia.

why would you be interested in a fingerprint scanner?

I prefer that my phone do nothing but make calls and texts. I accept that having a camera attached is a useful addition but otherwise I have no use for extra stuff on my phone.

Nokia 3310 for you, sir.

*cries*

What was I thinking, getting an iPhone?! Oh well.

Divair wrote:evleaks is claiming the WP phablet (codename Bandit, real name suspected Lumia 1520) is being pushed back to late October.
https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/378915114285412352

I definitely have an interest in that, as long as they plan to make them till next December.

Ashmoria wrote:

Divair wrote:The fingerprint scanner on the 5S looks interesting. The rest seems like standard Apple nonsense or stuff copied from MSFT/Nokia.

why would you be interested in a fingerprint scanner?

I prefer that my phone do nothing but make calls and texts. I accept that having a camera attached is a useful addition but otherwise I have no use for extra stuff on my phone.

Quicker and safer unlocking and payment.

Divair wrote:

Ashmoria wrote:why would you be interested in a fingerprint scanner?

I prefer that my phone do nothing but make calls and texts. I accept that having a camera attached is a useful addition but otherwise I have no use for extra stuff on my phone.

Quicker and safer unlocking and payment.

do you have a problem with phone safety now?

Terra Sector Union wrote:People actually give a shit about phones? They're just boxes that make you talk to people.

Don't you dare say that about my phone! *cuddles and kisses it* My phone is my waifu; she was there when no one else was!