# Smartphone. I'm finally getting one. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 8, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365 "2015-09-08T18:57:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/1 "2015-09-08T18:57:54Z")
I don’t talk on the phone very often. I don’t call anyone, and few people call me – and they, infrequently. In actuality, almost all of the calls I receive are from ‘Rachael’ or ‘Heather’ or whatever the Credit Card Services scamsters are using for a name now. So while I’d love to have a smartphone, my Pantech has been adequate. Until yesterday. The charging plug has been balky recently. Doesn’t want to come out of the socket. Apparently I broke something as I rather roughly disconnected it. Time for a new phone. Mrs. L.A. signed up with Virgin Mobile because they had the cheapest plan and the phone only cost her $200. I want an iPhone 6 Plus, but Virgin didn’t have them. I looked again yesterday, and they do have iPhones – except that they’re out of stock. And I’ve spent close to $800 on the bathroom renovation. I can’t afford an iPhone. So I settled on an $80 [LG Tribute](http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-LS660-Virgin-Mobile-tribute) Android phone. It has a 5 MP camera, as opposed to 13 MP (as stated on the back of The Missus’s LG phone) and reviews I read says it has very little memory. My AT&T plan costs just under $50, and I have to pay for any Internet access or text messages. Ad the Pantech hard-button phone not really a browser phone. When I get the new phone, I can get the unlimited talk and text plan with 8 GB data for $55/month, plus $5 month for access to Canadian numbers. (Not that I often call Canada, but I _am_ just a couple/few miles away from there.) I’ll finally be able to text freely, and I’ll have the means to look stuff up when I’m away from a computer. Hey, I can even use those square code thingies! The GPS might come in handy, since the database in my car was installed in 2005. I’ll have to learn things like how to take a picture or a video and email it. (Getting the images is easy. Sending them from a phone, I’ve never done.) I have no clue how much 8 GB of data is. Enough for a feature film? Might be good on a flight. I’ll have to learn how to switch between Virgin Internet and wi-fi Internet. I have a feeling that with all of the complaints about storage space, that’s going to piss me off at some point. But it’s better than what I have, and I’ll get that iPhone 6 Plus (or whatever replaces it) eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Sario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sario/32/18580_2.png) [@Sario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sario)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/2 "2015-09-08T19:50:28Z")
Ok a few things. 8 gb will be double or triple what you need unless you plan on streaming music or video. Assuming you have wifi at your house, you’ll only have to manually connect once. Your phone will auto connect after that. While on wifi, you will not be using data from your plan That Tribute your looking is very much a low end phone, which may not be a bad thing for your 1st smartphone. If you do get the Tribute and later upgrade to the iPhone, you will not be able to take the apps you downloaded with you. I’ll keep an eye on this thread if you have any other questions. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/3 "2015-09-08T19:57:35Z")
> [@Sario](#): > > That Tribute your looking is very much a low end phone, which may not be a bad thing for your 1st smartphone. > > If you do get the Tribute… I did order it. It was the best phone they had. The higher-end phones were all sold out. Not worried about apps. Haven’t a clue how what they’re for. I can download a Weather app easily enough. What else would I need? ---
**Author:** ![Sario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sario/32/18580_2.png) [@Sario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sario)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/4 "2015-09-08T20:06:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I did order it. It was the best phone they had. The higher-end phones were all sold out. > > Not worried about apps. Haven’t a clue how what they’re for. I can download a Weather app easily enough. What else would I need? It’s important to remember that smartphones aren’t phones, they’re computers that happen to be able to make phone calls. Apps are the same as programs for your pc, and run the spectrum from games to Microsoft office and beyond. As for weather, your phone will have a weather app already on it, but you may want to download a better one. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/5 "2015-09-08T20:11:22Z")
You need Flight radar 24. Tracks enroute aircraft. Tap an icon on the screen and you get departure/destination info along with speed and altitude. You can aim your phones camera at an aircraft in the sky and the screen will display data including distance. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/6 "2015-09-08T20:28:34Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > You need Flight radar 24. Tracks enroute aircraft. Tap an icon on the screen and you get departure/destination info along with speed and altitude. You can aim your phones camera at an aircraft in the sky and the screen will display data including distance. That sounds fun, but I don’t have a use for it. Except for iTunes, which I have on my iPod and probably doesn’t work on Android, I can’t think of many things that would be useful. Weather, traffic, GPS… I need to be able to make phone calls, send and receive texts without being charged 15¢ each for them, browse the Internet, take photos and video and send them in emails, and… That’s all I need, and it’s more than I’ve had. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/7 "2015-09-08T20:40:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Not worried about apps. Haven’t a clue how what they’re for. I can download a Weather app easily enough. What else would I need? - Reverse Lookup - will (sometimes) pair a name with a phone # not in your contact list; more importantly, gives you ability to “Send Future Calls to Voicemail” from a given #, in essence it creates a contact where the name begins zzBLOCKED\_\. Goodbye annoyances from Rachael or Heather! - RadarNow! - 30 - 45 min loop of realtime radar near you. You’ll know what local conditions are for your commute days. - A couple of offline games, like solitaire, in case you get stuck somewhere with time to kill & no/poor internet connectivity (airplanes, tunnels, the loo @ work.;)) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/8 "2015-09-08T21:44:06Z")
If you can cancel the deal you just got, it might be worth it. New iPhones will be announced tomorrow and new deals appear. Typically the current top phone becomes second banana to the new model and drops in price by a $100 or so. ETA Oops… Missed the fact that you didn’t get an iPhone. Never mind ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/9 "2015-09-08T23:37:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That sounds fun, but I don’t have a use for it. Except for iTunes, which I have on my iPod and probably doesn’t work on Android, I can’t think of many things that would be useful. Weather, traffic, GPS… I need to be able to make phone calls, send and receive texts without being charged 15¢ each for them, browse the Internet, take photos and video and send them in emails, and… That’s all I need, and it’s more than I’ve had. You’re really choosing to miss out on the bulk of the point of having a smart phone then. If that’s the case, you should cancel your order if you can because it looks like [bestbuy.com](http://bestbuy.com) sells the Tribute for $40. (If it’s the same model, anyway, I think it is.) At that price, you’ll get your moneys worth after a few years. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/10 "2015-09-09T01:00:24Z")
Get the Whatsapp app. You can text/talk for free (both phones have wi-fi). I think it is an android app. iPhones can’t play. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/11 "2015-09-09T01:55:57Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Get the Whatsapp app. You can text/talk for free (both phones have wi-fi). I think it is an android app. iPhones can’t play. [Guess again](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=8). It was originally iOS only. Hell, it was released on Symbian before it came to Android. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/12 "2015-09-09T02:18:48Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > [Guess again](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=8). > > It was originally iOS only. Hell, it was released on Symbian before it came to Android. Thanks. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/13 "2015-09-09T02:20:46Z")
If you decide to store music on it (or whatever), you can most likely add a micro SD card for more storage. Both LG’s I’ve had took them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/14 "2015-09-09T02:30:27Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > You’re really choosing to miss out on the bulk of the point of having a smart phone then. If that’s the case, you should cancel your order if you can because it looks like [bestbuy.com](http://bestbuy.com) sells the Tribute for $40. (If it’s the same model, anyway, I think it is.) At that price, you’ll get your moneys worth after a few years. Too late. It’s already shipped. I guess it depends on what people think the point of a smartphone is. I have no interest in playing Candy Crush or whatever. I want something like a more powerful version of my iPod that can also make calls. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/15 "2015-09-09T02:33:32Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > If you decide to store music on it (or whatever), you can most likely add a micro SD card for more storage. Both LG’s I’ve had took them. I don’t buy much music anymore. Most of the newer stuff on my iPod is from 1996 or 1997. I can just listen to some of the 4,300 tracks I have on there. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/16 "2015-09-09T02:43:21Z")
Check out the GasBuddy app. You can find the cheapest gas station in the area - whatever area you’re in. Might come in really handy for you and you might want to be a price reporter too! ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/17 "2015-09-09T03:18:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Too late. It’s already shipped. > > I guess it depends on what people think the point of a smartphone is. I have no interest in playing Candy Crush or whatever. I want something like a more powerful version of my iPod that can also make calls. Why do you want it to be more powerful if all you want to do is make calls and text? That’s feature phone territory. I just mean that the point of more power is that you can do more with it, meaning (for the most part) apps, which you don’t seem to care for. Of course, you wouldn’t be the first person who said “I don’t care about the apps,” and then saw the light. Looks like Virgin offers a 14-day money back guarantee if you order their phones online, so if the hassle is worth $40 to you, I’d return it. $80 is frankly a ripoff for that phone. Seriously, you might as well switch back to ATT and get the $200 iPhone if you’re ok spending $80 on a dog. You’re kind of in a weird zone where you want a smartphone, but don’t really seem to care about the smartphoneness of what you got, but that’s ok because you got a cheap smartphone that wouldn’t really provide a great smartphone experience anyway. Weird, but I guess it works out. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/18 "2015-09-09T04:29:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I don’t buy much music anymore. Most of the newer stuff on my iPod is from 1996 or 1997. I can just listen to some of the 4,300 tracks I have on there. Get Pandora. Also, the Kindle app is free, and you might be surprised at how easy it is to read books on a small screen. Really nice in waiting room type situations. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/19 "2015-09-11T21:19:02Z")
Well, the smartphone has arrived. I cheaped out and went for 4 GB data based on the first reply. I’ve managed to activate my account, make a call, receive a call, and store my home’s and wife’s numbers in Contacts. I’m still on the clock, so I’ll have to look up later how to add a ringtone, how to use hands-free, how to connect it via Bluetooth to my car, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365/20 "2015-09-11T23:09:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’m still on the clock, so I’ll have to look up later how to add a ringtone, how to use hands-free, how to connect it via Bluetooth to my car, and so on. Changing your default ringtone is probably in settings, customizing it for a given person/# is probably done by editing their contact. Also remember while you can pair it up with multiple different Bluetooth devices (car, earpiece, tablet) only one can be active at one time. I’ve paired mine with my tablet to send something to it but then it didn’t pair with the car when I got it because it stayed paired to the tablet. :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365.md?page=2)