Wristable Devices

I have to admit that I am a sucker for a functional gear. I love Casio G-Shocks, they are practically indestructible (minus the band, that's their Achilles heel), love mechanical watches and high accuracy time pieces (I had a Ti Citizen Chronomaster until it was stolen in a burglary, I still miss it dearly).

I have been keeping an eye on wristable devices and especially Apple Watch, but I am still not convinced that I need one. I feel I still need to bring my phone with me where ever I go and having a smart watch is superfluous. For a quick glance to get time my Casio G-Shock is more than adequate. For navigation phone with data is superior. Do I need to know my heart rate? Not really. Well, it might be interesting, but not that useful. So, what would I like to see in the watch I would buy?

Data connectivity with iMessage, Line and Skype. Voice control that works well (think Enterprise computer). Never needs charging - either powered by solar, motion or something new (like earths magnetic field). Device like that would become part of my routine just like the smart phone has done so. Let's see if in decade or so it will become reality.

Cell phone costs revisited and updated

Ever since cell phones acquired data capabilities I was a great fan of the wireless. Whenever I traveled, I always had email, then web with me - by getting a simcard abroad. But I never had that in US. Why? Data costs were just too high. I was never willing to pay $100 or even $50 a month for internet enabled smart phone service. Until couple days ago that is...

What made me change my mind? Going down prices started to make sense to add data to my smart phone(s). At first I came across Ting, and they started to look something I might be willing to pay; then I found U.S. Mobile - and everything came together.

I have ordered a SIM for $4, then activated and added 1GB of data. I added 100 minutes of talk time for another $3, but I don't think I'll be using that. There is $2 charge for "service fee". So after a month of using it, I'll see how much data I need and how much will I be spending.

Most of my talk time is on Skype now, with WhatsApp and Line doing some messaging and texting. I don't use SMS or Voice services anymore, just plain data. I did discover that my budget windows Nokia 620 is little under powered for Skype video chat, will be upgrading to a beefier hardware soon.

Speaking of hardware, what am I looking for? I am looking for a good camera, plenty of ram for smooth multitasking, plenty of storage for that camera and a battery that won't die at the end of the day. I have used iOS which I like for build quality and apps but dislike for not having SD style expansion. Not waterproof without bulky case. Plus you gotta pay Apple Tax in price. But overall I was pretty happy with my Apple phones - I have had 4 of them! I have played with Android phones too - they were a mixed bag. Cheaper Asus ZenPhone sounded great on paper, but in reality was just not snappy enough - not sure because of hardware or software; Windows 8 phone I have got (Lumia 620) is quite a firecracker - but there are some apps that I miss from my iPhone (like Amazon Video) that makes it so less useful. My next phone will have to be unlocked and support GSM, but LTE is not a priority. Waterproofness is nice, and good camera is a must. As I don't have the tablet, my phone is my tablet too so it has to be big. I'll be waiting to see what Apple shows at the upcoming iPhone 6s event, then make the decision. Sony Xperia Z3 is on my list, and so is Nokia 1520. I might just buy 6s Plus if I feel good about it. I do miss little things like "turn off sound" switch.

Anyways, data plan used to be the most expensive part before, and now it is the phone. As I tend to keep my phone for at least few years, I might be well served by buying the best I can afford.

Update: I have purchased Nokia 1520, but it died on me before I could not return it, so back it went. Good phone, just unfortunate failure.

Siri, Cortana and Alexa - in house spies

How does it feel to live in the world where walls have ears? You are living in it if you own one of the connected gadgets.

I find them mildly amusing, but pretty useless. No, I don't want to know what time it is or the temperature outside. I'd rather check myself.

Growing up in Soviet system my walls (ceilings to be more specific) had microphones from our "friends" at KGB. My family had relatives in USA and that made us a target. Years later my father told me that he never was on friendly terms with the neighbors upstairs as they allowed KGB to install surveillance gear. How did he knew I never asked. So we were told to think before we said anything.

Living in the society that you know that you are being spied upon, you have to be alert what you are about to say. Because everything can and will be used against you when time comes. So before you share your secrets with your digital pal, know that there are no secrets once you say or type them.

Best of luck in the new brave world!

When is it makes sense to upgrade your phone, err "pocket computer"

Fall again means numerous releases of "pocket computers" aka "cell phones".

Looking around, I can see 3 on my desk already - older iPhone 4, 4s and Nokia branded Lumia 620.

None of them are very new, but all of the work to certain extent.

Most crippled is iPhone 4s. It is locked to Verizon network, so I can only use it with them and their MVNOs - I chose PagePlus Cellular that with $80 / 2000 minutes has been my plan for past 3 years. What's the biggest drawback? No data - I have to rely on WiFi spots. Now with data costs dropping in price, I decided to take a leap for total connectivity.

Enter Lumia 620 running Win 8.1. Not a bad little guy, with 32GB expansion card it has replaced my iPhone (minus iMessage which I miss). Camera is a little slow to take a picture - I miss plenty of shots of my kid. Other than that, not a bad device, albeit little slow, but is quite comparable to iPhone 4.

After my experience with Verizon locked phone which can not be easily unlocked I would never buy a locked phone again. My iPhone 4 is unlocked which has served me well everywhere.

My next phone will be a device that I could use for the next couple years that doesn't cost me over $200. Yes, that eliminates highly covetable iPhone 6s right off the bat. Unfortunately, but it's economy, stupid.

If Microsoft has an affordable phone with reasonable spec, I might bite, otherwise I will look for an older flagship phone of the past.

2-4-16 Update: That's exactly what happened. I did buy Lumia 640 that Microsoft is blowing out at $59, and got my wife an iPhone 6s. She is happy with iPhone, and I am happy with 640 and the lighter credit card bill.

Why suddenly Windows phone?

Let's face it - Microsoft has blown it this time with mobile devices. They kept cutting out legacy devices to the point where users became unhappy and moved on to either Apple or Android. So why dwell on it?

The game changer was a $59 unlocked phone, Lumia 640. (You have to contact ATT and they will issue you the unlock code. Took like 3 days, link is here).

The question arises - does spending x10 on iPhone give me 10x the phone? I don't think so.

Actually, since I got my first Nokia Lumia 620 couple years ago, I have been taken by the ease of use of Windows 8 (and 8.1). There were gaps in app selection that I was not happy with - if you are Amazon Prime user, there are no streaming apps for the phone, and tumblr client is quite marginal, but I don't really want to tumble with blogging and watching videos on my phone anymore - I got an iPad Air just for that. It has all the apps and larger screen to boot, so that is that. Oh, and no iMessage, but SMS still gets through, so not a biggie. But I do miss iMessage - I hate the way mobile operators nickel and dime us on SMS.

The good - app for Skype is excellent. Line - yes (except I can not post clips I shot before with the phone - what's up with that?). Yelp - yes. Here Maps and Waze - yes. Gas Buddy - yes. It has a good audio player, so when I am on the road I use it as my GPS/mp3 player. MicroSD slot - 64gb card in there right now. Camera is good, LTE works with US Mobile (on T-Mobile network) in Los Angeles, and I still got $500+ left over if I would have bought an iPhone. I feel like a genius!

BTW, the phone feels smooth and polished, not like underpowered Asus Fone I had a chance to play with. That Asus cured me of further interest in Android - if I am going to spend iPhone money, I'll just get an iPhone. But for chump change that I am not going to worry about I'll seriously like that Lumia 640. How much do I like it? I bought 2.