Google Android catch-all

mrlogical wrote:

--when listening to audio on Bluetooth, I can hit the play button on the device (either headphones or car Bluetooth kit) to pause audio that's playing (usually a podcast) but can't hit the button again to resume playing (which worked in iOS just fine). Is there a setting to enable this?

Doing that works on my nexus 5x running android 8.1. It might be a flaw in how that pair of headphones works with bluetooth?

It has also worked on every Samsung phone I've had for the last 5 years. It literally was never an issue so I don't know how to solve it.

Huh. Weird. It's happening with both my bluetooth headphones and my bluetooth car hookup, each from different manufacturers. Maybe there's a setting somewhere on my phone affecting this, though nothing in the most obvious bluetooth settings I can find...

The only time I have that problem is if I am playing a podcast, pause the podcast and play a YouTube video or whatever, then try to play the podcast again with the Bluetooth play button. It usually does nothing, but sometimes it will open YT and play the video again. Other than that I have no issues.

Ok, I'm tempted to get an upgrade from my Zenfone 3. I tend to skip a generation when buying electronics, but the Zenfone 4 is tempting.

Anyone else played with that Asus line of products?

mrlogical wrote:

--when driving, I like using the assistant to say Hey Google, send a text. But I can't figure out how to get the assistant to bring me back to Waze without me touching the screen, which reduces the benefit of handsfree texting. Is there a command I can speak?

Never had your bluetooth problem, either, unless I've waited long enough for the OS to sleep an application. But that's more like 20 minutes, not a minute or two thing.

As to the second, when I'm in that situation, I'm normally using Google Maps with the stand alone Android Auto interface (doesn't require it to be built into your car). If you have Android Auto in the car, Waze works in that interface, but won't in the stand along Android Auto (yet).

However, either way, you could try "OK Google, open Waze". I haven't tried it to see if it would relaunch or just resume your route, but it's worth a shot. That's the general command for hands free starting an app.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

but the screen protector I got isn't sealing around the edges (about a mm all around). Has anyone else had this with the Pixel 2? I've never had it happen with tempered glass before. I ordered what looked to be one of the most popular tempered glass screen protectors, so I'm a little baffled.
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From my research and trying three types: There is no good one right now, unfortunately. I was using a liquid application version for a bit and hate the way it felt and how much a fingerprint magnet it was. The tempered glass one I got was flat (thought it was curved) and it's not great either.

Pixel was like that too and Samsung s8 or whatever. All these curved screens on the edges and screen protectors don't cover.

I gave up and got an armored type case for my Pixel, similar to otter box but cheaper and not as thick.

I hate the screen distortion but I tolerate it.

Give up all that fancy curved glass and get a One Plus with it's case in the box and factory installed screen protector.

There are curved glass screen protectors, but they have to be seated perfectly otherwise they mess up touch sensitivity. For me, a case that rises slightly above the screen has been fine.

Are there any good Android equivalents to the iPhone SE? My brother is looking for something with modern hardware in that small form factor, but he’s already invested in Google’s ecosystem.

Vargen wrote:

Are there any good Android equivalents to the iPhone SE? My brother is looking for something with modern hardware in that small form factor, but he’s already invested in Google’s ecosystem.

The Sony XZ1 Compact is almost the exact same size.

https://www.phonearena.com/phones/si...

Tempest wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

but the screen protector I got isn't sealing around the edges (about a mm all around). Has anyone else had this with the Pixel 2? I've never had it happen with tempered glass before. I ordered what looked to be one of the most popular tempered glass screen protectors, so I'm a little baffled.
.

From my research and trying three types: There is no good one right now, unfortunately. I was using a liquid application version for a bit and hate the way it felt and how much a fingerprint magnet it was. The tempered glass one I got was flat (thought it was curved) and it's not great either.

Glad I gave up after that first one and got a refund! Yeah, I'm fine without a screen protector since it's glass. Nintendo and PS made me scared with their plastic screen portables that I've scratched a lot. My Pixel 2 case keeps the screen from scraping if I set it upside down.

I think my problem with modern reviews for tech is they are completely short sighted.

Here are the specs how it works.... We have no clue if it falls apart 6months in.

That said 1 year and 2 months in my v20 has a cracked screen, lots of burn in. I can live with that. What I can't live with is the audio jack not working. One of the main reasons I stuck with LG/v20 series.

Anyways I'm sure it's not a hard fix ( other reason I bought the phone) just a matter of finding someone I trust to do it.

/rant

I guess the counter is all the other manufactures seem to f*ck up also.

I might honestly just opt for a one plus next time or something in that realm so when I pay way less I don't expect much.

Is it still under warranty if the hardware is failing? Although they may claim it's due to the cracked screen but who knows. Tomorrow the Wife and I will most likely be trading up to the pixel 2 XL. Good sale on it now from BB and it seems most items on it are resolved but like said above if it goes south it mostly means Google owes me one.

Haven't had an issue with my note 8.

Both of my Samsung phones have started to fall apart after about a year and a half. For some reason I'm still buying them and on my third.

I had to get my Pixel replaced (google covered it) because of a faulty audio jack as well.

There's a reason we're moving to yearly upgrades. Phones just won't last much longer than that without replacing batteries and whatnot.

Also, extended warranties and other protection plans for phones are worth their weight in gold, assuming you read the fine print.

garion333 wrote:

There's a reason we're moving to yearly upgrades. Phones just won't last much longer than that without replacing batteries and whatnot.

For phones from manufacturers that don't care to support them, maybe.

Kurrelgyre wrote:
garion333 wrote:

There's a reason we're moving to yearly upgrades. Phones just won't last much longer than that without replacing batteries and whatnot.

For phones from manufacturers that don't care to support them, maybe.

Isn't that all of them outside of Apple? And Google, though with less of a track record.

Kurrelgyre wrote:
garion333 wrote:

There's a reason we're moving to yearly upgrades. Phones just won't last much longer than that without replacing batteries and whatnot.

For phones from manufacturers that don't care to support them, maybe.

Which is all of them. The problem is that your phone is device that is always with you and because of that it's always at risk of being mishandled. If I drop my phone and it breaks, that's not covered. Maybe it shouldn't be. But if it isn't covered then make a device that can handle being dropped a handful of times without having to wrap it in layers of rubber and plastic, that is an added cost to me.

One of the things that I like the most about my One Plus is that it came with a case in the box and pre-installed screen protector. That way I was able to put of spending another $50 on top of the $600 I just spent, or just keep what it came with.

jowner wrote:

I think my problem with modern reviews for tech is they are completely short sighted.

Here are the specs how it works.... We have no clue if it falls apart 6months in.

What's the alternative, wait until 6 months after a device comes out to review it?

Sites like Android Central actually do publish follow-ups to their initial reviews after several months, at least for the more popular, "flagship" phones.

I want to replace my V20 but the V30's screen issues are a no-go, and Samsung still seems to have a crap DAC. :/

And anything without a headphone jack or microSD is useless to me.

My provider includes the equivalent of Apple care for all phones except that there's no 3 year limit and it includes cover for accidental damage. It's basically the same price as Apple's plan too.

I never had an issue with my Samsung phones, but I did skip the exploding generation. My Note 4 was probably the most durable robust phone I ever owned. I'm now on the latest generation of Note and it's pretty darn good.

My Galaxy S8 has been holding up well for almost a year now. Curved screen with gorilla glass 5 is a recipe for scratches though. First phone I have ever had a screen get scratches on. Also, the phone hasn't had an OS update since I bought it.

Middcore wrote:
jowner wrote:

I think my problem with modern reviews for tech is they are completely short sighted.

Here are the specs how it works.... We have no clue if it falls apart 6months in.

What's the alternative, wait until 6 months after a device comes out to review it?

Sites like Android Central actually do publish follow-ups to their initial reviews after several months, at least for the more popular, "flagship" phones.

Maybe more historical consistency of each manufacture in the reviews. "Here's the new xyz phone brought to you by the same company who brought you explode model 3 and shatters in your hand model 5"

As other people have posted its less the reviewers fault and more the accepted quality and cycle for phones is we replace them every 1-2 years. Which is pretty insane when you consider the investment.

I'm lucky tho. I don't live in Schenzen but I do live in Toronto. Without even going far I was able to go to Dragonmall in one of the Chinatown areas in the city. $25 for the part $30 for the labour and fingers crossed the Headphone jack lasts a full year.

Thing is I'm not sure what other people do. I live in a major metro. If these phones are going to be so fragile a secondary repair market is great. Not sure how readily available that is in smaller cities.

SpyNavy wrote:

I never had an issue with my Samsung phones, but I did skip the exploding generation. My Note 4 was probably the most durable robust phone I ever owned. I'm now on the latest generation of Note and it's pretty darn good.

The Note 4 was the pinnacle of android phone design. That thing was perfect. My son has been banging on a used one I bought him for over a year. It does have a good case on it but he's dropped it dozens of times. I replaced the battery about a month ago. I won't be upgrading his phone for quite some time.

I've been pretty unintentionally abusive with my S8+ that I've owned since launch, and it is holding up really well. I have no major scratches or anything I can see despite not using a screen protector.