New cell phone, LG Chocolate

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by kermitology

That use of GPS is bizarre.

I'd embedd a receiver in the phone, and that shouldn't be a subscriber service. GPS is supposed to be free to access.

You realize your talking about cell phone companies right?

I can't believe people pay cell companies money to store content you own on hardware you own.

Boggles my mind as to how they get away with it.

[Bobblehead]

What systems allow you to use an unlocked phone?

When my current contract runs out, I'd like to get a phone that, you know, allows me to do all the things the phone was designed to do without needing to pay a carrier. (I should be able to create my own ring tones, wallpaper, use the GPS, etc without getting hit loonied and toonied to death).

[Cliche]

Originally Posted by Barnes

You realize your talking about cell phone companies right?

I can't believe people pay cell companies money to store content you own on hardware you own.

Boggles my mind as to how they get away with it.

Licensing and the CRTC are to blame for the virtual monopoly that Rogers/Telus/Bell have cell phones.

To be honest, I've got an ok plan with my phone although paying ~45$ a month for 175 min with voicemail isn't all that great. I have a fear that if I move to a different company that prices will increase for less service. The only real benefit to Telus atm has been the spark sampler, in that I'm just charged per page and not per kilobyte as with some rogers/fido. For instance just looking on the rogers page under mobile internet, it's an addtional 10$/month and 3cents/kB. 3 cents per kilobyte. Some of the pages on CP alone probably take up more than 10 MB(I'm looking at the LOLcat thread) and when you consider an mp3 song is ~4-5mb downloading one onto your phone would cost ~135$ in data access fees...

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Hey folks,

I just got a new phone, the LG Chocolate. I had a few questions..



First, is it normal for the screen to stay lit (but not backlit.. so its still illuminated, but not as bright as if you were dialing, or looking at the menu) when charging? Its like an unwanted nightlight in my room.. and I have to leave it on because I use it as my alarm clock.

The GPS thing, I don't really want it, but was trying to see what it was, but I can never seem to get it to work? Is there a trick, or do you have to subscribe to something?

What is Spark anyway.. and "Spark Sampler"

Plus, if anyone knows some neat functions that you like, please let me know

Cheers,

James.

I got this phone through Fido, and I sold it after 2 months. The only thing good thing about it is that it looks nice. I'm still upset that I went through retention for that stupid phone.

I hope I didn't make you feel bad.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by guzzy

I hate to say it but that is the worst phone ever made. Mine has been in for service twice now. Every time I send it in they erase all my pics and contacts. Telus should let everyone exchange these pieces of crap. They should feel bad for selling garbage. Not that I would expect anything better from Telus. It takes a crap company to sell crap and be proud of it. I am so glad for Shaw home phone.

The reason all your contacts and pictures are erased is that they've likely replaced the motherboard in your phone... and doing so removes all info stored there. When you say Telus should let everyone exchange the phones, what you actually should be saying is LG should let everyone exchange the phones. They're the manufacturer of the phone. It's kind of like saying Shaw should replace your tv. The problem is that consumers expect their phone company to replace it because they subsidized the price of the hardware in the first place. If you had paid 'full price' for the phone, not on contract, would you still expect Telus to exchange it for you? Or would you expect the manufacturer to as they made the crappy phone?

Telus is well aware of the problems with the Chocolate slide, and most dealers have quit recommending them as they're the ones that have to deal with the repair process. I'm sure Rogers is the same.

[CMPunk]

I've had mine for about 6 months with no issues what so ever

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Barnes

You realize your talking about cell phone companies right?

I can't believe people pay cell companies money to store content you own on hardware you own.

Boggles my mind as to how they get away with it.

I'm just speaking about GPS in general. The signals are transmitted to anyone who can decode them. Charging for access should be illegal. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if it was, considering GPS is, in some cases, defined as an essential service.

[McG]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I'm just speaking about GPS in general. The signals are transmitted to anyone who can decode them. Charging for access should be illegal. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if it was, considering GPS is, in some cases, defined as an essential service.

exactly. my pda and my wife's gps both work for free once you buy the device.

its a free service.

one thing to keep in mind with some of the so-called GPS phones is that they are nothing of the sort. they do not use satellites at all. they use 3 cell towers and triangulate your position...and then download a map of where you are. true GPS runs from numerous satellites. your cell phone gps becomes extremely useless as you get to two and then one towers. just a thought.

but gps is an awesome tool. i just wish that we could get traffic updates and routing on the canadian ones.

[Salisbury]

^ I dont think that is correct. If a smartphone has GPS and there are many out there they work exactly the same as a regular GPS handheld device using satellite GPS.
LG do not make good cell phones. The chocolate is stylish and thats it. For a really good phone bank on a Nokia, Sony Ericisson or a Motorola, trust me, I have many phones, been through many, and read hundreds of reviews on whats available!

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

What systems allow you to use an unlocked phone?

When my current contract runs out, I'd like to get a phone that, you know, allows me to do all the things the phone was designed to do without needing to pay a carrier. (I should be able to create my own ring tones, wallpaper, use the GPS, etc without getting hit loonied and toonied to death).

Bobblehead,

ur best bet in being able to get a phone unlocked is by importing... if you buy a phone here, u will have to pay to get it unlocked.

Import from Asia or Europe (no, it is not illegal) and then go with Fido or Rogers since those are the only 2 (well, 1 technically) that use the GSM network... and since these phones are unlocked, you are allowed to use any and all functions that came with it without having to pay the carriers extra for using it.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Bobblehead,

ur best bet in being able to get a phone unlocked is by importing... if you buy a phone here, u will have to pay to get it unlocked.

There are a few stores in Calgary that carries a variety of unlocked GSM phones.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by CRXguy

There are a few stores in Calgary that carries a variety of unlocked GSM phones.

That... I do not know about (thats probably because I never found a need to buy here since I always buy them when I'm overseas)

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Jayems

By the way: Anyone thinking of getting this phone ---- DON'T. (well... IMO )

Easily the worst phone i've ever owned... hands down. The "heat sensitive" buttons NEVER work, you can't dial numbers without hitting 24235132412 just trying to get a freakin 2 in there.

Taking this back tomorrow and seeing what I can get done. Have the warranty, so they can fix it, but I really don't want them to give it back...

I have this phone. At first that was driiving me crazy, but there IS a sensitivity setting for the touchpad. I set it so that it was not so sensitive. If you mean b/c the dialpad is small then I guess that is a different issue.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Ive had mine for almost a year now and I love it, easily the best phone I have have ever had. I love the touch sensitive buttons, you just gotta get used to it, but once you do, its so nice to have.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by jonesy

I have this phone. At first that was driiving me crazy, but there IS a sensitivity setting for the touchpad. I set it so that it was not so sensitive. If you mean b/c the dialpad is small then I guess that is a different issue.

No, Ive messed with the sensitivity and I think its a defect in my phone because it acts randomly. Right now, the send button/thing doesn't work, so I can only receive calls.

And yes, I mean I can't dial numbers because it is so small. Its fine if you take the time to press each number with pin-point accuracy, but other times im pressing 2-3 other numbers at the same time...