The joy of new mobile devices

[Bulldog9]

After a friendly visit from the roving AT&t salesman last week, my wife and I decided to change our service from Verizon to ATT.

Makes a lot of sense financially as we cut our cell phone bill by 2/3.

However..... I've been a dedicated Motorola phone user from the beginning. Because I wanted as pure and Android experiences possible, I went for the Google Pixel 10. I generally keep a phone 5 to 6 years and when I buy will buy direct from Motorola off their website on their clearance items. It's worked really well, even though the Motorola phones have lousy cameras by comparison. My wife on the other hand is addicted to Samsung phones and has been getting a new phone every 2 years just because..... She normally goes to the Verizon store and they do all the setup. This time we had the phones mailed to us.

We wanted to keep our numbers so we set up the porting PIN codes and that all works flawlessly for both phones. I did my Google / Android pure changeover from the Motorola to the new Google pixel 10 and it was effortless and flawless.

However..... Now I'm trying to do my wife's, and the stupid Samsung operating system layover of Android is a royal PITA.......

But I shouldn't be complaining we took our bill from over $200 to $85 a month with unlimited data and free phones to boot with trade-ins. Because I couldn't bear to part with my Motorola theme song we are sending one of her older galaxies in place of mine for the trade-in.

As far as operation I don't see any big difference between the pixel and the Motorola think phone, but the camera is my ears better as is the sound and music. Because both use the Android pure OS, everything seems to be about the same.

I'm just glad that she didn't choose to go to an iPhone because I probably have slit my wrists or kill the whole bottle of bourbon by now.....  I'm kidding of course. I really hope this new Google pixel phone will last a 5 to 6 years or more. Because my Motorola is waterproof, I will probably use it as my backup nav and four music and such on the motorcycles. My last Motorola that was completely waterproof was my 2010 G3. It still works perfectly, but the OS is very old and laggy.

Anyhow, this is the age we live in....

[SIR REAL ED]

Thanks for the info.  My IPhone 8 is getting a bit long in the tooth.

My local computer guru likes Androids, and IIRC thinks Motorola has the highest, most robust build quality.

I will probably look into an alternative to Verizon, perhaps Pure Talk or another smaller company than Verizon.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Glad you got things squared away and I hear you on Samsung's UI changes to Android. Both Samsung and Google are currently promising 7 years of software updates to their latest flagship phones, so as long as they aren't lost or broken, you may be able to avoid a phone replacement for a very long time.

If you're an Android user and don't desire an exceptionally rugged phone or other unique physical characteristics, it's hard to beat the Google Pixel phones. Android is literally developed on their hardware and earlier this year Google moved much of the Android open source project to "behind closed doors" where they may gain a larger monopoly over the Android market because of that. With Samsung, unless you reflash the phone, you also end up with a lot of Samsung and carrier bloat. Bundled software that may or may not be useful to you. Even on my Google Pixel, I've reflashed the phone with GrapheneOS to remove much of the stuff I don't want on my phone.

Your scenario of getting the phone for "free" is a situation where going with a major carrier makes sense. For "bring your own device", you can typically get the same phone service, or sometimes slightly reduced network priority, for significantly cheaper if you don't need the convenience of being able to walk into a store for the carrier like you can with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Each of those carriers have their own "flanker" brands where they sell the same network access for less, and then there are indy MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that resell network access to the big 3 for less with their own more limited support. Some of these are more difficult to navigate and set up service with, but you can typically get an "unlimited" plan for $25-35/mo + tax (Guzzi content). I've been on Boost Mobile (previously Boost Infinite) for a few years now, which is the AT&T network with a fallback of using T-Mobile when that has poor coverage, and pay $26.69/mo total for "unlimited" where data is only throttled after 30 GB in a month.

[n3303j]

If your Pixel 10 is like my Son-in-law's Pixel 9 Pro.

1. It has a daylight readable screen brighter than most competitors. Makes it great as a GPS on the bike.

2. If you are in an area with no cell service the phone automatically switches over to satellite service! There are no more "no connection" events for him as long as there is a reasonably clear path to the sky.

He is using T-Mobile as a provider.

[kballowe]

I recently picked up a heavily discounted (Guzzi content) Pixel 9A for me and a Samsung Galaxy A26 for the Wife.
That Samsung was, and still can be a PITA.  Good pictures, though.

[Vagrant]

If you can check out Spectrum. We have two phones, unlimited everything, better coverage that ATT $50 total a month for the two and no BS taxes or fees. $25 a line is Guzzi content.

[blackcat]

We recently changed from Verizon to AT&T fiber optic home and two iPhones and saved a substantial amount of money. In terms of the keeping your phone number, that is federal law so don't ever give up your number unless you want a new one. I still have my home phone number from the early 1990's.

[Wayne Orwig]

Years back, I used to be on Verizon, and my riding buddies had ATT or others. They always thought it was goofy for me to pay more to have Verizon when we rode away from civilization. They also often borrowed my phone to make a call because theirs had no service.
Fast forward years. I took a chance and switched to ATT to save $$$. We took a cross country car trip, and found ATT as good or maybe better, then Verizon. We now have ATT and Spectrum. Spectrum is supposed to be Verizon towers. Spectrum is not as good as ATT service in the North Carolina mountains, but it is much cheaper and close enough.

[bronzestar1]

I'm an analog guy in a digital world, and have been a die-hard Android user since my first cell phone (wife and daughters are die-hard iPhone users).  I had a 4G flip-phone for the longest time, since I only viewed my phone as a communication device, not as a computer, music device, etc.  I currently have a 5G Samsung, use it mainly for texts and phone calls, with the occasional checking of emails, and only Sirius XM app for music.  I treat the modern "tech" on my bikes the same way.  If I can disable it, or put it at a lower level, I will.  Luckily for me, the "tech" features on my V100 Mandello pale in comparison to all the bells and whistles on my Tuono 660 Factory.  The main procedure I use to determine the complexity of a modern bike's tech is how easy or difficult it is to change the clock... 

[Vagrant]

how easy or difficult it is to change the clock..
Funny! Nothing worse than checking into a motel with a clock so fancy you can't set the alarm.

[dguzzi]

  I agree that Motorola is a much better Android phone than Samsung....so annoying!

[NoDebt]

Please return to Verizon cell service

Verizon shareholders need our dividend. 

[John Croucher]

My apologies to all cellular users.  Many decades ago I jumped from my professional careers as a manufacturing engineer to become a telecommunications sales rep.  On the ground floor of the break up of the phone service monopoly.  Gradually becoming a master distributor of cellular phones.  Getting You addicted.

My sales group pumped out a semi trailer of phones 5 days a week for years. 

Prepaid cellular is the cheapest and most flexible service plan.  Buying and owning your on phone is the cheapest way to own a handset.  You own your phone number.  It can be transferred to any carrier.

There are top tier carriers and resellers call mobile virtual network operators or MVNO'S. A MVNO is cheap service.  Calls and data speed is manipulated. 

[Moparnut72]

I ah a Motorola phone which worked well but due to a poor phone mount and a strong headwind it blew off my bike at 60 mph. I was able to recover it but despite a cracked screen it still worked. I went to Verizon to see what I had to do to get it repaired but found that doing it through them was such a major hassle I let them talk me into a free Samsung phone. I didn't like it at all after I got used to it. My bills were being sent to another address so I didn't see until a couple of months later that I had been billed $850 for the phone. All I got was an online notice that my credit card was being debited. Between this and the so called free phone I cancelled and went to T-Mobile and exchanged the Samsung for another Motorola a lesser model which I am happy with. The only downside is that in the sticks where I live the coverage isn't great. I was under the impression that they used the Verizon network but apparently not or it is restricted.
kk

[chuck peterson]

Still working….great fun pulling it out in a crowd to see the reaction

When I got a ‘new’ one i made sure it was several generations behind the times. I think Apple was releasing iphone 12 and I bought a new 6….the woman behind the counter said, “now that old one has everything except a telephone.” Then I realized I hardly ever use a phone anymore….duh! Why am i paying for “phone” to not use it? Text works better for me

I’m like that after seeing digital cameras in the professional field get a new version every 6 months. The old ones still worked to their limit but got eclipsed by marketing

My daughter insisted I get an Otterbox to protect the new one…works a treat

[SIR REAL ED]

Still working….great fun pulling it out in a crowd to see the reaction

When I got a ‘new’ one i made sure it was several generations behind the times. I think Apple was releasing iphone 12 and I bought a new 6….the woman behind the counter said, “now that old one has everything except a telephone.” Then I realized I hardly ever use a phone anymore….duh! Why am i paying for “phone” to not use it? Text works better for me

I’m like that after seeing digital cameras in the professional field get a new version every 6 months. The old ones still worked to their limit but got eclipsed by marketing

My daughter insisted I get an Otterbox to protect the new one…works a treat

You could at least wrap that thing in Saran Wrap so you would not look like a cheap SOB,

If you flip that phone over, does it have a Moto Guzzi badge on the back side?

Just wondering.

[Bulldog9]

I ah a Motorola phone which worked well but due to a poor phone mount and a strong headwind it blew off my bike at 60 mph. I was able to recover it but despite a cracked screen it still worked. I went to Verizon to see what I had to do to get it repaired but found that doing it through them was such a major hassle I let them talk me into a free Samsung phone. I didn't like it at all after I got used to it. My bills were being sent to another address so I didn't see until a couple of months later that I had been billed $850 for the phone. All I got was an online notice that my credit card was being debited. Between this and the so called free phone I cancelled and went to T-Mobile and exchanged the Samsung for another Motorola a lesser model which I am happy with. The only downside is that in the sticks where I live the coverage isn't great. I was under the impression that they used the Verizon network but apparently not or it is restricted.
kk

My 'currently used' phone is always in my tank bag. I will use an older in a Ram Mount and use my current phone as a hotspot. I still have my Moto G3 from 2015 as my MGMP display on the Stornello, and Mobile Music and digital Speedometer with occasional GPS on the other bikes. I do h ave a TOMTOM Ryder thing, but is a pain to switch over.  The G3 is waterproof and has lasted without issue. The main problem is age, speed and inability to run current programs. I cant use Audible, or Amazon Music, or Iheart radio. It's too old. I'll retire the G3 and put the Thinkphone into service it is supposedly an IP68 water rated device.

I'm adjusting to the Pixel10, and like it. It lacks the karate chop flashlight and twist action for camera of the Motorola, and a few other MOTO functions and isn't a MOTO, but otherwise it is fast, has a great camera, quality sound, runs fast, and supposedly security and device upgrades for 7 years. I also love the Android Pure OS which is what Motorola uses.

In the end, it's a mobile device in a black rubber case........ ANd all the technology sometimes has me thinking the Amish have it right.............. .

Google makes the switchover relatively painless, especially if you did a fresh backup on the old phone before attempting the transfer. It copied everything over including passwords, wifi settings, hotspot settings, 100% Google apps, and other system tools, even the Microsoft apps (office/word/onedrive/etc) carried over with little issue. First time logins for apps and sites with double or triple authentication meant a few other steps, but it was flawless overall. Of course, as I said in the OP, this was not the case with the Samsung, and its OS did its own thing which was different and needed more attention and quirks, but in the end, it worked.

[Bulldog9]

UPDATE:

The Motorola Thinkphone is stripped down and setup to replace the ancient G3 (10 years old).

It took a bit of fidgeting, as the MGMP App was no longer available in the app store, and had to be downloaded from a third party and forced to load into the Android 15 OS. Seems that the older MG app was not designed to or have the security capabilities of the older.  This surprised me. I can understand that OS programming of newer apps wont run on older systems, but I assumed the newer systems could run older apps. But I got it to work.

One other Issue was to get the 'home screen' to display in landscape mode. The MGMP is a dedicated landscape program and will I wanted a clear display of the programs and apps. I was able to find a program called NOVA launcher which is an OS skin. It does what is needed, but does effect base function.

I stripped out all the PII apps and just have it as my GPS and Music files, and I also downloaded my complete Guzzi Knowledge files including Guzzi Diag, Guzziology, and all my manuals and files as well as a live updated Weather Widget. I haven't paired the phone with the Stornello yet to confirm MGMP function because I am out of town with family, but I don't think it will be a problem.

Here is how the new phone looks. It has an IP68 rating which is higher than the outgoing G3. It also has much stronger Gorilla Glass, and a glass screen protector, so hoping to get another 10 years of service. It will be nice to be able to have Google Maps, Streaming Music, etc. again.

 





OK, now back to work on the Family Christmas Tree Farm.  If you are in NYC or Long Island, come on out to the North Fork to Aquebogue for a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree....

[jcctx]

I am a confirmed Motorola fan; have 2 moto gs with stylus (never used). I have an Edge on order and am debating which service to deploy it on. Currently have MVNO red pocket ($122/yr.) as my main phone and T-mobile prepaid "Connect" ($16.50/month) which is my old land line #. The Visible services look interesting with no cap on the data usage as long as you can live with 5, 10 or 15mb speed. Some intro pricing with 2 yr. price protection.   Decisions~~~~~~~~~~?

[Tom H]

FWIW: I'm using Consumer Cellular. With tax and all about $24 a month. Uses AT&T network and may still use T-Mobile? I only needed ONE phone, most $50 unlimited plans are 2 phones at $50 each. I didn't NEED unlimited data and only ONE line. Consumer was the best value at the time. Unlimited text and talk but limited to 1GB data a month was their cheapest plan. But, they have tiered plans, so if you went over your data instead of some high per MB usage fee, they bump you to the next plan for about $10, then if you exceed that, they bump up again. You do have to call them to get your plan back to the cheap plan, if not they keep you on the higher GB plan. If you need unlimited for ONE line, it's about $50, at the time most were about $75 and up.

Hope this may help some. Not trying to push CC, just happy with them.
Tom

[jcctx]

Got my Edge and simply switched the sim of Redpocket and it came right up. Decided to keep service I have for now!!

[Bulldog9]

FWIW: I'm using Consumer Cellular. With tax and all about $24 a month. Uses AT&T network and may still use T-Mobile? I only needed ONE phone, most $50 unlimited plans are 2 phones at $50 each. I didn't NEED unlimited data and only ONE line. Consumer was the best value at the time. Unlimited text and talk but limited to 1GB data a month was their cheapest plan. But, they have tiered plans, so if you went over your data instead of some high per MB usage fee, they bump you to the next plan for about $10, then if you exceed that, they bump up again. You do have to call them to get your plan back to the cheap plan, if not they keep you on the higher GB plan. If you need unlimited for ONE line, it's about $50, at the time most were about $75 and up.

Hope this may help some. Not trying to push CC, just happy with them.
Tom

Unfortunately, we travel a lot and use our phones as hotspots for our computers and mobile, streaming of music etc  regularly. So unlimited data is a must-have. My wife probably uses 15 to 20 gig of data a month due mainly to her work computer.

Still, I'm thrilled that we'll be paying for three lines with AT&t less than what we were paying for one line on Verizon.

And Even though I loved my Motorola, and tend to buy cheap phones, getting new phones for free was also a big plus.

[guzzisteve]

Your X mas trees look more like bushes than trees, am I the only one who sees this? Takes a long time to complete the growing.

[Bulldog9]

Your X mas trees look more like bushes than trees, am I the only one who sees this? Takes a long time to complete the growing.

Yeah, it's been a learning curve for trimming. Some people really liked the fuller more rounded, but I agree they are pretty fat. Some of it the local market (what other farms are doing) and nature of the Douglas fir trees as well. The last 2 months of growth instead of going up and growing evenly they all just grew fat and we didn't want to cut them down and leave them sparse. He wants some open branches to hang ornaments etc.

But it's been a fun learning experience for all. This is the first year that we're selling trees.

Once the season is over the remaining will be cut hard. We've sold about 250 of the 500 so far.