Originally posted by derWandersmann:

I don't have a mobile.

I think it's rather a luck than disadvantage, that you don't need one or have no use for one. In my case, this phone also keeps tab on email and help me not miss important news from my family or new translation order.Originally posted by qlue:

I'll get there too one day!

Join the hive mind! 😀

Well I mght have to install Android to my Raspberry Pi since Opera Softare does not currently have an installation candidate for Linux on the ARMv6 platform. :awww:

I'm not sure about the privacy issue since I already use most of Google's products. :sherlock:The current Android ports don't work yet so it may be a while before I can get Android running on the RPi :rolleyes::sst: it boots to blank screen, not very useful. :p

Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

It was to geeky for me to add my contribution,

😆 Well it is only useful for people who own a Raspberry Pi board and a 3G/usb modem. :pI've seen a number of posts where people are using chat scripts or some exotic software to connect via 3G. That is way too much hard work for me. :rolleyes:My method sounds complicated, but it really is easier than messing around with chat scripts or configuration files! :hat: .

I don't worry about the privacy but the problem with Android is that you just need to have an online connection all the time. Most of the applications on Android require some sort of connection.

Well, with fixed rate 2G/3G it is not a problem. But sometimes it is annoying when one is forced to have connection even for calendar and maps. In that sense Nokia's calendar and map applications on their Symbian phones were better.

Originally posted by serola:

I don't worry about the privacy

I was a bit worried because I could not disable the Facebook app that came with Android, apparently included by Sony Ericsson as one of its own range of default apps. No matter how often I force stopped all components, it turned itself on after a few minutes. :insane:Luckily the phone received the official upgrade to Androind 4.0 today, which has the ability to disable unwanted apps. So I feel much happier with it now. :happy:One problem with the upgrade to Icecream Sandwich is the native camera app. It seems to have lost the ability to specify white balance, focus method and metering method. 🙁

😀 Yes. Everything seems better, efficient, more customisable and smoother. I'm loving this ability to "disable" any apps I don't need, even the default ones like the Email app (unnecessary because I used the Gmail app).The mobile picture album, MM's Mobile Moment, is up and running now. So far all the pictures I uploaded were taken at home. It's good to able to share a shot within five minutes of taking it. 😀

Originally posted by qlue:

to 'root' it.

:no: The Uni-Matrix Zero!!!I've sort of read a little bit about rooting. Seems doable but some commented it may void phone's warranty. I might wait until the warranty period expires or I can't resist the temptation for "more control" any more. :pAnother thing I noticed is, the battery seems last longer. Probably because I've been utilising the new ability to disabled unwanted apps. Previously the phone used over 50% of battery in 24 hours even with minimal use (Gmail synch and periodical checks by an earthquake app only). Now only about 25% is needed. 😀

Thanks, Sami. I don't use a task killer. Android 4.0 has the native ability to "Disable" apps, so those unwanted apps aren't started at start-up or visible in the apps list.Originally posted by serola:

I manually close apps I do not need running,

Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

I was a bit worried because I could not disable the Facebook app that came with Android, apparently included by Sony Ericsson as one of its own range of default apps. No matter how often I force stopped all components, it turned itself on after a few minutes.

Luckily those times were gone with the old 2.3. Now with 4.0 Icecream Sandwich, I'm free of the creepy cyber-stoker app :p

I have looked a bit deeper about batteries & charging, and found the Battery University site. In the article titled "How to Prime Batteries"

Rechargeable batteries may not deliver their full rated capacity when new and will require formatting. While this applies to most battery systems, manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries disagree. They say that Li-ion is ready at birth and does not need priming. Although this may be true, users have reported some capacity gains by cycling these batteries after long storage.

Having read the full article and looked through the comments to the article, I found interesting it seems even the experts disagree on this matter. :sherlock:[Addendum]Another very interesting article at http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries especially the section about depth of discharge and number of discharge cycles (Table 2)

Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

Don't you get update from the phone manufacturer?

The problem is that some models just get too old for updates. Although, I have not exactly checked for ZTE Blade updates lately. Need to do it right away. But the main problem is that this phone of mine has very limited internal memory, and I think it will just ran out with latest upgrades.

If that's the case, I'll happily recommend an Xperia model. Mine's at the basic end feature as well as size wise and the ones Thu Wyn recommended are the top end ones, I think. I had a look when he mentioned it in my Android photo forum thread. One of them only has 32GB internal memory, but no provision to extend capacity with SD. Interesting approach, I thought.

Originally posted by serola:

Does the camera drain the battery a lot?

I'm not sure. I haven't owned cellphones with camera for long, only since late July. So I've no benchmark to compare to. The biggest user on battery use indicator is the display. I guess using the camera is included in there. There's an option to disable/enable user of "Mobile Bravia Engine" for pictures. Disabling this may save some charge. But I haven't tested it yet.Of course you have your own specific needs to consider, and budget, too. In my case I wanted a weather proof, tough phone. So my choice was already limited to only two models. And taking mobile provider service quality and price into consideration, Active was my only choice.

Judging from what I saw when searched for smartphone battery life, needing to recharge battery after a day's use is quite normal. Actually that piece information about depth of discharge and discharge cycles suggests batteries last longer, if not let discharge more than 50% and is charged more frequently. I charge my Active at least every other day, or when the charge indicator says 50% remaining.I charged it last night on my bedside table, until about 23.30. In the morning the charge indicator showed 94%. I took a couple of pictures, edited one, enabled WiFi, fired up Opera Mini and uploaded it. When these are all done, the charge indicator was at 90%. Originally posted by serola:

And I keep it on GPRS (2G) all the time because 3G would consume more charge.

And I have no choice in this aspect, either. My mobile operator only runs 3G network.

My operator is the latest new comer to the market, so a little thin on resources, I think. They don't even offer MMS (texts with picture). Vodafone, the old hand, still has 2G and 3G. 🙂

Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

I've been utilising the new ability to disabled unwanted apps.

Never ever block background mobile data traffic for Google Services on your Android :insane:I was confused as to why Gmail app notification wasn't working when WiFi wasn't on. :doh:

Originally posted by serola:

that is the problem with Android phones. You have to be online all the time

Don't you need to be online to receive email any way? Originally posted by chthoniid:

Samsung hadn't releases the Galaxy in NZ, I had to go to China in a weeks time.

It always seems the case with us, to get the hand-me-downs after the rest of the world got bored with the stuff. Maybe you could pick one up at airport duty-free? (I mean the Galaxy III or whatever you were after)

Originally posted by qlue:

I check my email at least once a week!

Yeah, right!Originally posted by qlue:

I can't stand 'push' services.

I've decided I could just manually check on WiFi when I'm home, and disabled mobile data & auto synch. Then I've got an International call from my agency about a new job order. Apparently it was an urgent stuff and they emailed me about 15 min before :doh: In the past I have missed several good orders for one reason or another. One of them was worth about $3000. 😥 So the ability to have speedy mail notifications and reply mails when I'm not home is very important for a freelancer like me. 🙂

I've got the link, here.my.opera.com/tdjmd1/blog/funny-and-strange-animal-facts-by-animal-appreciation-group

And here cows go Muu Muu :DOriginally posted by mimi_s_mum:

Don't you need to be online to receive email any way?

Yes, but I do that on PC. I sit next to computer almost 8 hours per day anyway (except on weekends). So, there's enough email for me. Only daily based online services I actually use on my mobile phone are news and weather.

Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

…Maybe you could pick one up at airport duty-free? (I mean the Galaxy III or whatever you were after)

I'm sort of now stuck in the position where I don't want to spend more money on a phone 🙂

The advantage of the X6 is that it has a 16G memory and is a very nice music player. It just suffers the S60 issue of not being a very good smartphone. Often that doesn't matter. But sometimes it does bite. I'd like for example, to be able to sync my calender with the phone. That's mission-impossible

Now I'm drooling after Sony Xperia acro S 🙂http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Xperia_acro_S

:yes: of course :jester: