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Jaimec
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 09:46 am: | 
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That's true. No existing network currently labeled "4G" meets the actual standards-based definition of "4G." LTE is Verizon's replacement architecture for CDMA that is considerably faster than the existing network and may (one day) be actually capable of true 4G speeds. I believe AT&T is also working on an LTE network as well. IIRC, Sprint's "4G" network is based on a different architecture. |
Crackhead
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 12:20 pm: |
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"when using Verizon's flavor of 3G, there is one limitation: You can do voice OR data, but not both at the same time"
But at least on Verizon network, does drop your calls. AT&T can't even do voice. |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 12:48 pm: |
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>>>>AT&T can't even do voice.
Took me a bit of time to understand why more folks didn't raise a stink about this.
I observed that most my students had iPhones, most were under 30 and most seldom spoke on the phone . . they text like we (..... talking 'bout my generation") used to speak on the phone.
I *DO* like being able to e-mail, text and so forth while speaking on the phone . . makes driving less boring.
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Jaimec
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 12:52 pm: |
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Best line was Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" talking about the "new" iPad:
It's just like an iPhone... you can't make calls with this either. |
Blake
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 05:45 pm: |
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I spent the better part of a month using just the AT&T 3G for internet via iPhone and never even broke 1GB. I guess you'd have to be watching movies every night on the phone to get anywhere near 10GB/mo. I don't think I've ever gone over that even on the home computer. So, it's certainly not an issue for me.
I just wish AT&T offered more intermediate levels for the family talk and data options.
I can either go with 1,400 minutes or the next level down is just 700 minutes for $20/mo less.
Data plans are unlimited for $30, 2GB for $25, then the next option drops all the way to just 200MB for $15.
The sleezy pricing schemes are what irritate me about cell phone plans. Why don't they just charge an adjustable sliding rate based on usage? Is that so freaking difficult? There is little on earth more confusing than trying to configure a cell phone plan for your family.
We have something like 6,000 accrued roll-over minutes due to paying for 1,400 minutes per month but only using around 900 on average. There is no 900 or 1,000 minute plan. The next plan down is 700 minutes. Not enough. No problem you're thinking, just switch back when the rollover balance is fixin' to deplete.
They have that covered. When you switch to the lower rate plan, you only get to carry over rollover minutes equivalent to the new monthly plan, no more, in my case, 700. It is not a fair system for me.
On the other hand, they do allow a LOT of free minutes; any AT&T to AT&T wireless call is free, nights and weekends are free, and we get free calls to ten numbers of our choosing.
I'd just feel a lot better if I were using a lot closer to the 1400 minutes per month. I hate the feeling of paying for something I'm not using. I don't think I'm alone in that.
On the other hand, we average about $2/day per phone (3 iPhones and a Razer flip phone) on the family plan. Not too bad I guess. The convenience and value is significant. |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 05:50 pm: |
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Blake. Call me. We'll talk for 700 minutes. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 08:31 am: |
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Blake - I use a fair amount of data on my iPhone regularly. I'll stream a good amount of video, either from YouTube or full shows/movies from Netflix, and I stream hours and hours of music each month from Pandora. I'm typically in the 800MB - 1GB range each month.
I do have a friend that streams music all day, every day, and does about 2GB per month if I recall correctly.
BTW - the unlimited data plans are no longer available to new iPhone subscribers. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 09:50 am: |
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If the rumors are true, though, iPhone users WILL get unlimited plans under Verizon's 3G network... |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 10:42 am: |
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. . .we'll know in 29 minutes. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 11:33 am: |
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Wait no longer:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-amp -Apple-prnews-191150980.html?x=0&.v=1
iPhone 4, eh? So now millions of Verizon customers can experience the "Grip of Death" for themselves... |
Americanmadexb
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 12:31 pm: |
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Man. Message has spread at work quick and I'm about to pick up a Droid X for cheap!!
I'm guessing the first batch of iPhones will be unlimited because they aren't ready for LTE. That alone would bring all the at&t users to the yard.  |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 01:02 pm: |
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I'm guessing the first batch of iPhones will be unlimited because they aren't ready for LTE. That alone would bring all the at&t users to the yard.
I wouldn't count on it, at least not for that reason. The lack of unlimited data plans with AT&T is rather recent, so much so that anyone with one is still under contract for another 18 months or so, minimum. Plus, as myself and Blake pointed out, it's VERY hard to use more than 2GB of data on 3G, especially if you have WiFi at your home.
Everyone who had an iPhone prior to the release of the iPhone 4 (including myself) was grandfathered into the unlimited data plans... at least for the time being. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 01:21 pm: |
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It's HERE . . 2-10-11. |
Froggy
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 01:36 pm: |
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I hate the idea of these low limit plans. Sprint currently does not have a real hard limit like Verizon or ATT, but if you constantly are going over 5GB a month they will send you a letter. I'm yet to get the letter but I've do 4-5GB a month as of late, once did 6gb. I'm so glad I don't have a cap like this on my home connection, I transfer around 5 TerraBytes a month on that! |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 01:56 pm: |
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still rocking my pocket etchasketch.....
whats the weather like ? let me step out onto the patio  Its cold. damn cold,
next update as events occur ! |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 02:49 am: |
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>>> The lack of unlimited data plans with AT&T is rather recent, so much so that anyone with one is still under contract for another 18 months or so, minimum.
I had unlimited and only six months left on contract. I saved myself the $5 per month and switched to 2GB just a few days ago.
Apple will likely be looking to sell to CDMA providers overseas too. Big news for them.
No droid for me, yuck, clunky goofy things. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 12:49 pm: |
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Every time I need to replace my Droid's battery (which I haven't had to do yet) I'll think of how much better it is to be able to do that MYSELF without having to pay someone at a service center or risk voiding the warranty.
Same for upgrading/replacing the internal micro-SD card.
No way I'm EVER going into "Steve World." Too much like Harley... lots of money for nothing but "image." |
Pwnzor
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 01:05 pm: |
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No droid for me, yuck, clunky goofy things.
What Droid have you actually test driven, and was it an actual Droid or merely an Android-based device?
I'm still rocking the original Motorola Droid, and I'm very happy with it. It literally does everything. Just got my girlfriend the Droid 2 Global for Christmas, and it does literally everything including full GSM capabilities... and it does it a LOT faster.
My brother's 3GS and my good friend's iP4 each remain, in my opinion, second best to my original Droid in a side-by-side comparison. The D2G knocks it all the way out of the park. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 02:20 pm: |
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Jamie,
I'm coming up on two years with my 3G. Battery still going strong. Will be upgrading soon to 3GS or 4G, not sure which; if I can't find a 16GB 3GS, it'll have to be the 4G. I like the form of the 3 series much better, the rounded edges.
Matt,
The actual droid. I just don't like it's physical design. It's functional, more so than an iPhone, but big for me is form and feel. The iPhone is sleek, dense, SOLID, ultra-compact. It's like a piece of billet artwork that is also my phone, stereo, camera, computer...
The droid offers more functionality via the keyboard, but the compactness of the iPhone is more important to me. I carry it in my pants pocket, sometimes my shirt pocket, everywhere. It's darn near immune to blowing sand, dust, dirt, and moisture where the droid seems like it would suffer severe issues. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 02:22 pm: |
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I can't imagine anything being much faster than the iPhone 3GS. My 3G is sluggish in some tasks with all the new OS4.x bloatware. It used to be quick. Still very functional though. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 02:26 pm: |
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Blake . . I may have an excellent 3GS surplus.
Have you downgraded yet? If you need the article from MacLife about downgrading let me know . . I haven't, but intend to as time permits. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 02:29 pm: |
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Blake - go for the 4. I understand you liking the 3G shape better, but the 4 is still a smaller phone, faster than a 3G by MILES (and faster than a 3GS as well... but the biggest reason is the screen. The new screen is just SO good. It's amazing to look at.
Plus, this past June I sold my 16GB iPhone 3G on ebay for $245. Yes, $245. That makes the iPhone 4 considerably cheaper to buy if you're up for a contract renewal. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 03:00 pm: |
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Hmmm... carry my original Droid in all the same places... sometimes even in its Otterbox case, and never had a problem with the size.
Personally, I can't STAND those onscreen keyboards... I constantly "fat finger" them. Much prefer the physical keyboard on the Droid. Never understood all the complaints I read about the original Droid's keyboard either... it works just fine for me. |
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