The Android Thread v2

[Sainters7]

Man how the heck can my Samsung Smart Things not find my Beats Buds2 Pro earphones that ended up being in the kitchen less than 20 feet away from where I was standing (no they weren't dead), while I'm seeing funny Apple earbuds tweets of someone locating their right ear bud in Ibiza when they're back in England with the left one??

I was sure it was gone forever when the search came up empty. Nope, they're right there...

[Galakanokis]

My pixel 8 pro cannot find my pixel watch 2 unless it is on my arm. Of course it is no longer on my arm....

Apple did the tracking right. Privacy be damned!

[photon]

I got a cheap Android tablet for reading, ALLDOCUBE iPlay 50 Mini (https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CHYHDJKY)

Just contemplating if I want to log into my Google account with it or if I should setup a separate Google account just for use with that device. It's a plain version of Android as far as I can tell but who knows what's in the firmware or hardware.

I don't have stuff in Google I'd want access to, I'd only want to setup an account to install apps, get access to the library and maybe sub to a Shonen Jump/VIZ for Manga, so I'd be putting in a credit card but I'm ok with relying on the CC for safety if it gets stolen.

Or am I just being paranoid...

[Fuzz]

I'm not sure you are being paranoid enough.

I just wanted to point out to everyone who is interested in buying an Alldocube iPlay 50 mini Pro 8" Tablet that their ota-server was hacked and I assume that malware/adware got installed through their official system updater (com.abfota.systemUpdate) in March 2024. They seem to use the same ota provider "Redstone" as the company Gigaset that was compromised in 2021 in a similar manner (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...infected-by-malware-via-hacked-update-server/) as I checked the apk via Virustotal and found references to "Redstone". They communicated this security issue only (?) on their forum (https://www.alldocube.com/en/forums/topic/11680/) without specifying any details about the implications for the end-user.

I bought the tablet in June 2024 so I think I'm not directly compromised by this specific issue, but I can see some strange dns-requests to the following domains which I can't find the cause of:

api.echoyesterday.com (very frequent as soon as a network connection is established)
us-a.keepgo123.com
us-a.gsonx.com

https://xdaforums.com/t/alldocube-ot...i-pro.4682746/

[photon]

Hm, so separate account AND only let it on my guest network then...

EDIT: Or seems I can install a generic Android LinageOS on it which would get rid of any OS level shenanigans anyway.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Yea if I'm buying a cheap Chinese tablet, that thing is getting rooted and a generic OS installed before I do anything with it

[photon]

I have been playing around with it a bit and so far the hardware is about perfect for what I was looking for to read manga.

The 8" size is perfect for reading and the extra resolution really looks nice, it's 1920x1200 vs 1280x800 for something like the Fire HD 8".

Nice for the price.

[indes]

My Pixel 6 is finally dying on me. I can only get about half a day out of a charge now and the modem is absolutely terrible. I can't get through a single phone call without it getting choppy/cutting out and the internet seems to suck on both wifi and network. 3 years is a decent amount of time for a phone I think though. I was going to go Oneplus this go around but Telus has a better deal than shelling out 600$ for a phone.


So I ordered a Pixel 9 from Telus. 0$/mo for 2 years with the bring it back thing. I've traditionally just bought my phones but if I can "rent" a Pixel 9 for "free" then that seems a lot better than shelling out $800+. My plan did go up 10$/mo from the BYOD plan so its not exactly free but still a better deal than the oneplus 12r outright.

Was going to abandon pixel for their modems but it sounds like the 9 has it figured out. Looking forward to it!

[EldrickOnIce]

Let us know how you like it. I'm really meh about the pixel 8 and am currently planning to go back to OnePlus when the time comes. There is nothing wrong with the 8. Nothing very right either.

[Galakanokis]

Pixel 8 Pro here for about a year now. I have had no issues.

Doubt I upgrade to the 9 or fold this coming year. Will wait to see what price drops are like when the 10 and iPhone 17 come out. Other than foldables there is nothing new in cell phones.

[indes]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Let us know how you like it. I'm really meh about the pixel 8 and am currently planning to go back to OnePlus when the time comes. There is nothing wrong with the 8. Nothing very right either.

Will do for sure. I was in the same boat with my 6 - even with the ####ty modem/wifi I still wouldn't have gotten a new phone if it wasn't for the battery. Which is also why I would've gone oneplus.

I got the oneplus watch 2 a few months ago and having a smartwatch that lasts days with always on display and charges in 20 minutes is incredible. I won't be able to switch out the watch until everyone catches up - couldn't imagine charging my watch every day.

[indes]

Do not recommend ordering a new phone through the Telus app lol. I just spent 20 minutes on the phone with them "confirming" my order. I might as well have just gone in and grabbed one.

Ordered it last week and now it looks like it'll be another week, won't be doing that again.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I'm still using my Pixel 5. Never caused me an issue and even the battery is still doing pretty well. I only charge it at night via adaptive wireless charging and it usually lasts me the day unless I watch a lot of YouTube over lunch.


Only thing making me consider an upgrade is no security patches since Nov 23. I thought I wanted the Pixel 9 but man, that is a chonky camera bump. I guess I could get the Pixel 8 but Google store shows the same price for the 9 Pro and 8 Pro.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I'm still using my Pixel 5. Never caused me an issue and even the battery is still doing pretty well. I only charge it at night via adaptive wireless charging and it usually lasts me the day unless I watch a lot of YouTube over lunch.


Only thing making me consider an upgrade is no security patches since Nov 23. I thought I wanted the Pixel 9 but man, that is a chonky camera bump. I guess I could get the Pixel 8 but Google store shows the same price for the 9 Pro and 8 Pro.

The Pixel 8 is entirely uninteresting. Mine is not pro though, if that matters. It is completely average in all aspects, if that's what you are looking for.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I'm still using my Pixel 5. Never caused me an issue and even the battery is still doing pretty well. I only charge it at night via adaptive wireless charging and it usually lasts me the day unless I watch a lot of YouTube over lunch.


Only thing making me consider an upgrade is no security patches since Nov 23. I thought I wanted the Pixel 9 but man, that is a chonky camera bump. I guess I could get the Pixel 8 but Google store shows the same price for the 9 Pro and 8 Pro.

The battery on my Pixel 6 still usually lasts me 2-3 days after almost 3 years, I've never had a phone with a battery doing that well. The only issue I have with it is the charging port doesn't work well anymore so I can really only charge it wirelessly.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I'm still using my Pixel 5. Never caused me an issue and even the battery is still doing pretty well. I only charge it at night via adaptive wireless charging and it usually lasts me the day unless I watch a lot of YouTube over lunch.


Only thing making me consider an upgrade is no security patches since Nov 23. I thought I wanted the Pixel 9 but man, that is a chonky camera bump. I guess I could get the Pixel 8 but Google store shows the same price for the 9 Pro and 8 Pro.

Maybe consider side loading LineageOS for updated security if you still like the phone. Will give you the latest Android version with security patches.

https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/redfin/

[indes]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Let us know how you like it. I'm really meh about the pixel 8 and am currently planning to go back to OnePlus when the time comes. There is nothing wrong with the 8. Nothing very right either.

The early review after a weekend with the phone is that the battery is way better! That's my biggest takeaway - I got 2 full days out of it with 30% left and it charges faster than my 6. My 6 wouldn't last a whole day in battery saver anymore.

The other nice upgrade is the modem. Definitely improved service reception with cellular and 5g (haven't dropped to LTE yet). Fingerprint sensor is another improvement, it's much better than my 6.

Besides those it's a basic upgrade, everything is a little faster, screen is a little better etc. I'm not a huge fan of the rounded corner iPhone look on this phone, it's thicker than my 6 and it's noticeably heavier in my hand for some negative points.

Overall I'm happy with the upgrade so far.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

Maybe consider side loading LineageOS for updated security if you still like the phone. Will give you the latest Android version with security patches.

https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/redfin/

Interesting, thanks. I also considered GrapheneOS but this may be a better option. Will look into it.